Joel T. Headley

Joel Tyler Headley (December 30, 1813 - December 30, 1897) was an American clergyman, historian, newspaper editor and politician who served as Secretary of State of New York.

Life

He was born at Walton, New York to a Presbyterian clergyman father, and he determined to take up the same occupation. He graduated from Union College in 1839 and took a course in theology at the Auburn Theological Seminary in Auburn, New York. After being ordained, he preached at Stockbridge, Massachusetts, but soon had to give up his profession due to the strain, going to Europe in 1842. He turned to history writing, producing many works on various subjects. His writings were among the first to call attention to the Adirondack Mountains as a health resort. He later accepted the solicitations of Horace Greeley and became associate editor of the New York Tribune. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1855 and was New York Secretary of State from 1856 to 1857, elected on the American Party ticket. He died in Newburgh, New York in 1897, having lived there for many years.

References

*cite book|last=Headley|first=Russell, ed|title=The History of Orange County, New York|year=1908|place=Middletown, N.Y.