George P. Fisher
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| George P. Fisher | |
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| In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 |
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| Preceded by | William G. Whiteley |
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| Succeeded by | William Temple |
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| Born | October 13, 1817 Milford, Delaware |
| Died | February 10, 1899 (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 Justice for the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Born in Milford, Delaware, he 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 studied law, was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1841, and commenced practice in Dover.
[edit] Professional and political career
Fisher was a elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 1843 and 1844, and in 1846 was appointed the Secretary of State of Delaware. 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. 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.
Consequently he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln, on March 11, 1863, a judge of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, which position he resigned in 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
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| 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 | ||||||
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| 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 | |||||||
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| Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | President | Committees | Class/District | |
| 1861-1862 | 37th | U.S. House | Republican | Abraham Lincoln | at-large | ||
| Election results | |||||||||||
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| 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% | ||
[edit] References
- Martin, Roger A.. (2003). Delawareans in Congress, the House of Representatives 1789-1900.. ISBN 0-924117-26-5.
[edit] External links
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
- Delaware’s Members of Congress
- Find a Grave
- The Political Graveyard
[edit] 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
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