William J. Bacon

William Johnson Bacon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 23rd district
In office March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1879
Preceded by	Scott Lord
Succeeded by	Cyrus D. Prescott
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Oneida County, 4th district
In office January 1, 1850 – December 31, 1850
Preceded by	Oliver Prescott
Succeeded by	Joseph Benedict
Personal details
Born	February 18, 1803 Williamstown, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Died	July 3, 1889 (aged 86) Utica, Oneida County, New York
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Eliza Kirklan Bacon Susan Gillette Bacon
Alma mater	Hamilton College Litchfield Law School
Profession	lawyer judge politician

William Johnson Bacon (February 18, 1803 – July 3, 1889) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from New York.

Biography

Bacon was born the son of Ezekiel Bacon and Abigail Smith Bacon; and the grandson of John Bacon, in Williamstown, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. He moved with his family to Utica, New York, in 1815. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1822. Then he studied law at Litchfield Law School, and studied for a year in the law office of Joseph and Charles P. Kirkland. He was admitted to the bar in 1824, and commenced practice in Utica. He married Eliza Kirkland on October 23, 1828. and subsequent to her death in 1872, he was married to Susan Gillette on an unknown date.^[1]

Career

Bacon was appointed City Attorney of Utica in 1837, and was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1850. He was elected a trustee of Hamilton College in 1851, and he was trustee of Hamilton College from 1856 until his death. He was a justice of the New York Supreme Court (5th District) from 1854 to 1869,^[2] and was ex officio a judge of the New York Court of Appeals in 1860 and 1868.

Elected as a Republican to the 45th United States Congress, Bacon served as U.S. Representative for the twenty-third district of New York from March 4, 1877, to March 4, 1879.^[3] Afterwards he resumed the practice of law.

Death

Bacon died in Utica, Oneida County, New York, on July 3, 1889 (age 86 years, 135 days). He is interred at Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, New York.^[4]

References

1. "William J. Bacon". Litchfield Historical Society. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
2. "William J. Bacon". Find A Grave. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
3. "William J. Bacon". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
4. "William J. Bacon". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 8 August 2013.

External links

• United States Congress. "William J. Bacon (id: B000020)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 239, 256 and 351; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
• Court of Appeals judges