James W. Covert

James Way Covert (September 2, 1842 - May 16, 1910) was a United States Representative from New York. Born at Oyster Bay, he attended the public schools and received an academic education in Locust Valley. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1863 and commenced practice in Flushing. He was district school commissioner from 1867 to 1870, assistant prosecuting attorney of Queens County, and surrogate of Queens County from 1870 to 1874.

Covert was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress, and was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881. While in the House he was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture (Forty-sixth Congress). He was a member of the New York State Senate in 1882 and 1883, and was then elected to the Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1895. During the Fifty-third Congress he was chairman, Committee on Patents. Covert moved to Brooklyn in 1896 and resumed the practice of law. He died in Brooklyn in 1910; interment was in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth.

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*CongBio|C000814