Samuel Beardsley

American politician and judge (1790–1860)

Samuel Beardsley (February 6, 1790 – May 6, 1860) was an American attorney, judge and legislator from New York. During his career he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, New York Attorney General, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, a member of the New York State Senate, and a justice of the New York Supreme Court.

Born in Hoosick, New York on February 6, 1790, the son of Obadiah Beardsley and Eunice (Moore) Beardsley. His siblings included Levi Beardsley, who served in both the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate. Beardsley's family soon moved to Monticello, an unincorporated village of Richfield, and he was educated in the local schools of his new hometown. He taught school and began the study of medicine with Dr. Joseph White of Cherry Valley, but later decided to pursue a legal career, and moved to Rome, New York to study law with Judge Joshua Hathaway. Beardsley served in the 157th Regiment of the New York State Militia during the War of 1812, he rose through the ranks to become the regimental adjutant with the rank of captain. He was later commissioned as a quartermaster in the United States Army, and took part in the Defense of Sacket's Harbor in 1813. Beardsley was admitted to the bar in 1815 and commenced practice in Watertown, New York. After his admission to the bar, he continued to serve in the militia as judge advocate of the 13th Brigade.

In 1816 Beardsley returned to Rome, New York, and continued the practice of law. From 1821 to 1825, he served as district attorney of Oneida County. In 1822 he was elected to a one year term in the New York State Senate (1823), and in 1823 he moved to Utica. He was United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York from 1823 to 1830. Elected as a Jacksonian to the 22nd Congress, Beardsley was U. S. Representative for the fourteenth district of New York from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1833. During the 23rd and 24th United States Congresses Beardsley served as U. S. Representative for the seventeenth district from March 4, 1833, to March 29, 1836, when he resigned. During the Twenty fourth Congress he was chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. He was one of the "principal citizens" participating in the anti abolitionist mob that broke up the 1835 meeting in Utica, called by Beriah Green, to set up a New York State Antislavery Society. In 1836, Beardsley was elected by the New York State Legislature to the office of New York State Attorney General after his predecessor Greene C. Bronson became a justice of the New York Supreme Court, and he served until 1838.

Elected as a Democrat to the Twenty eighth United States Congress, Beardsley served as U. S. Representative for the twentieth district from March 4, 1843, to February 29, 1844, when he resigned to accept the appointment as associate justice of the New York Supreme Court. He sat on the bench from 1844 to 1847, and was chief justice from June 29 to July 5, 1847. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law in Utica and New York City.

Beardsley died in Utica, Oneida County, New York on May 6, 1860. He was interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, New York.

In 1816, Beardsley was married to Sarah Hathaway (1793 1869), the daughter of Joshua Hathaway, under whom Beardsley had studied law. They were the parents of one child who lived to adulthood, Arthur. Arthur Moore Beardsley became an attorney, and had a successful career in Utica and New York City.