George P. Fisher

This article is about the lawyer and politician from mid nineteenth century Delaware, for others see George Fisher (disambiguation).

George P. Fisher
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's At-large district
In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	William G. Whiteley
Succeeded by	William Temple
Personal details
Born	October 13, 1817(1817-10-13) Milford, Delaware
Died	February 10, 1899(1899-02-10) (aged 81) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Whig Republican
Residence	Dover, Delaware
Alma mater	Dickinson College
Profession	lawyer

George Purnell Fisher (October 13, 1817 – February 10, 1899) was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party and later the Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as Attorney General of Delaware, as Secretary of State of Delaware, as U. S. Representative from Delaware, and as a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

Early life and family

Born in Milford, Delaware, Fisher attended the public schools of Kent County and Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He graduated from Dickinson College in 1838. He then read law, was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1841, and commenced practice in Dover.

Professional and political career

Fisher served as a clerk in the Delaware State Senate in 1843 before he was an elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 1843 and 1844. In 1846 he was appointed the Secretary of State of Delaware, holding such office until 1847. In 1846, he also became an Aide-de-Camp to Major General Nathaniel Young, Commander of the Delaware Militia. In 1849 he was working in Washington with William Hunter, as a confidential clerk to Secretary John M. Clayton in the U.S. Department of State. At this time Fisher was appointed by President Zachary Taylor to be a commissioner to adjudicate claims against Brazil, performing this from 1850 to 1852, when he became the private secretary of President Millard Fillmore. From 1855 until 1860 he served as Delaware Attorney General.

With the coming of the Civil War Fisher was elected as a Unionist to the 37th Congress, serving from March 4, 1861 to March 3, 1863. The Unionist were Delaware's version of Republicans and Fisher ran for the 38th Congress as a Republican in 1862 and lost, thereafter briefly serving as a Colonel in the First Delaware Cavalry, in 1863.

Consequently Fisher was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln on March 10, 1863, to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia created by 12 Stat. 762. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 11, 1863, and received his commission the same day. Fisher served in that capacity until his resignation on May 1, 1870 when appointed district attorney for the District of Columbia, serving until 1875.

Finally he returned to Dover and was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison on May 31, 1889 to be the First Auditor of the Treasury Department, in which capacity he served until March 23, 1893.

Death and legacy

He died in Washington, D.C. and was initially buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington. Later he was reburied in the Old Methodist or Whatcoat Cemetery at Dover, Delaware.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. Members of the General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Senators have a four year term and State Representatives have a two year term. U.S. Representatives took office March 4th and also have a two year term.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Began office	Ended office	notes
State Senate	Legislature	Dover	January 6, 1843	January 6, 1845
State Senate	Legislature	Dover	January 6, 1845	January 5, 1847
Secretary of State	Executive	Dover	1846	1849	Delaware
Attorney General	Executive	Dover	1855	1860	Delaware
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	March 4, 1861	March 3, 1863
Supreme Court	Judiciary	Washington	March 11, 1863	1870	District of Columbia
District Attorney	Judiciary	Washington	1870	1875	District of Columbia

Delaware General Assembly service
Dates	Assembly	Chamber	Majority	Governor	Committees	District
1843	62nd	State Senate	Whig	William B. Cooper		Sussex at-large
1845	63rd	State Senate	Whig	Thomas Stockton Joseph Maull William Temple		Sussex at-large

United States Congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1861-1862	37th	U.S. House	Republican	Abraham Lincoln		at-large

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	votes	%		Opponent	Party	votes	%
1860	U.S. Representative		George P. Fisher	Republican	7,732	48%		Benjamin T. Biggs	Democratic	7,485	47%
1862	U.S. Representative		George P. Fisher	Republican	8,014	50%		William Temple	Democratic	8,051	50%

References

• Martin, Roger A.. (2003). Delawareans in Congress, the House of Representatives 1789-1900.. ISBN 0-924117-26-5. 

External links

• George P. Fisher at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
• Delaware’s Members of Congress
• Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965