Amasa J. Parker

Amasa Junius Parker (June 2, 1807 Sharon, Connecticut - May 13, 1890 Albany, New York) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

He moved with his parents to Hudson, New York, in 1816. He was taught by private tutors and graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1825. He was the principal of Hudson (New York) Academy from 1823 to 1827. Later he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1828, and commenced practice in Delhi, New York. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1833 and 1834. He was a regent of the New York University from 1835 to 1844.

Parker was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1837-March 3, 1839). Afterwards he resumed the practice of law. In 1844, he moved to Albany, New York and served as vice chancellor and circuit judge from 1844 to 1847. In 1847 he was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court for the third district, and in 1853 became one of the supreme court justices sitting on the New York Court of Appeals, holding both offices until 1855. He was one of the founders of the Albany (New York) Law School in 1851. He was twice defeated as a Democratic candidate for Governor of New York, in 1856 by Republican John Alsop King, and in 1858 by Republican Edwin D. Morgan. He served as delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867 and 1868.

His wife was Harriet Langdon Roberts, granddaughter of Woodbury Langdon, one of New Hampshire's representatives to the Continental Congress. They had four children, among them Mary Parker who married Erastus Corning (1827-1897) and was the mother of Edwin Corning .

He was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery.

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