William Wright (politician)

Infobox Congressman
name = William Wright


width =
state = New Jersey
district = 5th
party = Whig (House)
Democratic (Senate)
term = March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845
preceded = John Bancker Aycrigg
William Halstead
John Patterson Bryan Maxwell
Joseph Fitz Randolph
Charles C. Stratton
Thomas J. Yorke (Elected statewide on a Whig Party general ticket)
succeeded = Dudley S. Gregory (W)
office2 = United States Senator from New Jersey (Class 2)
term2 = March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859
preceded2 = Jacob W. Miller (W)
succeeded2 = John C. Ten Eyck (R)
office3 = United States Senator from New Jersey (Class 1)
term3 = March 4, 1863 – November 1, 1866
preceded3 = James Walter Wall (D)
succeeded3 = Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (R)
date of birth = November 13, 1794
place of birth = Clarksville, Rockland County, New York
date of death = November 1, 1866
place of death = Flemington, New Jersey
spouse =
profession = Politician
religion =
footnotes =

William Wright (November 13, 1794 – November 1, 1866) was an American politician who served as Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, represented ushr|New Jersey|5 as a Whig in the United States House of Representatives from 1843 to 1847, and represented New Jersey in the United States Senate as a Democrat from 1853 to 1859, and again from 1863 until his death.

Born in Clarksville, Rockland County, New York; attended the public schools and Poughkeepsie Academy; was a volunteer for the defense of Stonington, Connecticut, in the War of 1812; learned the saddler's trade and engaged in business in Bridgeport, Connecticut; moved to Newark, New Jersey in 1821 and ran a saddlery and leather business there. He served as mayor of Newark from 1840-1843.

Wright was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-eighth United States Congress and Twenty-ninth United States Congress (March 4, 1843-March 3, 1847). He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 1847, and affiliated with the Democratic Party in 1850. Wright was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1859, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1858. He was the chairman, Committee on Manufactures (Thirty-third United States Congress and Thirty-fourth United States Congress), Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses (Thirty-fifth United States Congress), Committee on Engrossed Bills (Thirty-fifth Congress); again elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1863, until his death in Newark. He was interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark.

ee also

*List of mayors of Newark, New Jersey

External links

*congbio|W000772|William Wright
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/wright9.html#R9M0JI9K6 William Wright] at The Political Graveyard
*Findagrave|4917|William Wright