- Edward Rumsey
Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Edward Rumsey
honorific-suffix =
caption = Edward Rumsey, circa 1845
state = Kentucky
district = 2nd
term_start = March 4, 1837
term_end = March 3, 1839
preceded =Albert G. Hawes
succeeded =Philip Triplett
birth_date = Birth date|1800|11|5|mf=yes
birth_place =Botetourt County, Virginia
death_date = Death date and age|1868|4|6|1800|11|5
death_place =Greenville, Kentucky
restingplace = Old Caney Station Cemetery
restingplacecoordinates =
party = Whig
spouse = Jane Merrihew Wing
relations = Nephew ofJames Rumsey
occupation =
profession =Lawyer
religion =Edward Rumsey (November 5, 1800 – April 6, 1868) was a
United States Representative fromKentucky .Rumsey was born to Dr. Edward Rumsey in
Botetourt County, Virginia .Perrin, p. 96] When the younger Rumsey was still a child, Dr. Rumsey moved the family toChristian County, Kentucky . Studying under Daniel Barry, he completed preparatory studies inHopkinsville, Kentucky .Rothert, p. 82] He studied law underJohn J. Crittenden , with whom he became life-long friends. He moved toGreenville, Kentucky where he was admitted to the bar and practiced in Muhlenberg and surrounding counties.Rumsey was elected to the
Kentucky House of Representatives in 1822. The major questions during his tenure were those connected to theOld Court-New Court controversy .On January 5, 1832, Rumsey married Jane Merrihew Wing. The couple had two children."The Owl", p. 1834]
Rumsey was elected as a Whig to the
Twenty-fifth Congress , serving from March 4, 1837 to March 3, 1839.Congressional Biography] On February 9, 1839, he gave an impassioned speech on the House floor regarding a resolution to recognize his uncle,James Rumsey , as the inventor of thesteamboat and to present a gold medal to his cousin, his uncle's only child. [Perrin, pp. 96–97] The resolution unanimously passed the House, but failed in the Senate.Rothert, p. 83]In spring 1838, both Rumsey's young children contracted
scarlet fever and died. Overwhelmed with sorrow, he retired from public life at the end of his congressional term. After leaving Congress, he again resumed the practice of his profession. He died in Greenville, Kentucky in 1868 and was buried in the Old Caney Station Cemetery, near Greenville, Kentucky.According to historian Otto Rothert, the town of Rumsey in
McLean County, Kentucky was to be named after Edward Rumsey. Out of modesty, Rumsey declined, after which the citizens agreed to a compromise whereby the town would be called Rumsey and officially be named in honor of James Rumsey.Rothert, p. 81]References
*CongBio|R000507
*cite book |title=The Owl |date=1916 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=QrhbAAAAMAAJ |accessdate=2008-09-22
*cite book |last=Perrin |first=William Henry |title=Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical |publisher=F.A. Battey |year=1884 |pages=pp. 96–97 |url=http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;q1=edward%20rumsey;idno=b92-73-27206924;view=toc |accessdate=2008-09-22
*cite book |last=Rothert |first=Otto Arthur |title=A History of Muhlenberg County |publisher=J.P. Morton |year=1913 |location=Louisville, Kentucky |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=tHzUYtgbjgEC |accessdate=2008-06-14
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