Samuel T. Busey

Samuel Thompson Busey (November 16, 1835 - August 12, 1909) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Born in Greencastle, Indiana, Busey moved with his parents to Urbana, Illinois.He attended the public schools.He studied law.He attended commercial college and law lectures in 1859 and 1860. During the Civil War served as first sergeant and then first lieutenant of the Urbana Zouaves in 1861 and 1862. Town collector in 1862. Second lieutenant in the recruiting service in June 1862 and helped to organize the Seventy-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.He served as captain of Company B of that regiment June 22, 1862.He served as lieutenant colonel August 22, 1862.He served as colonel January 7, 1863. Brevetted brigadier general of Volunteers April 9, 1865. Mustered out of the service July 22, 1865, in Chicago, Illinois.He engaged in banking from 1867 to 1888.He served as mayor of Urbana 1880-1889.

Busey was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-second Congress (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1893) defeating Joseph Gurney Cannon.He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1892 to the Fifty-third Congress, losing to Cannon (who regained his seat). This pattern would be repeated 22 years later by fellow Democrat banker Frank T. O'Hair.Afterward, he returned to banking.He died in Urbana, Illinois, August 12, 1909.He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery.

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