Alexander H. Bailey
A New York judge and congressman who navigated the turbulent politics of the Civil War era, shaping state law and national policy.
1817–1874 (age 57)·American politician and judge·Birthday: August 14
Biography
Alexander H. Bailey's life was a study in 19th-century American political ascent. Born in 1817, he practiced law in upstate New York before entering the political arena. He served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives during a period of profound national fracture, his tenure bracketed by the escalating tensions of the 1850s and the aftermath of the Civil War. His work in Congress involved the complex financial and reconstruction policies of the era. Returning to New York, he shifted to the judiciary, serving as a justice of the state supreme court where his rulings influenced New York's legal landscape for years. His career trajectory—from local law to federal legislature and finally to the bench—mirrored the paths of many influential figures who built the nation's institutional framework during its most trying test.
#1 When Alexander Was Born
The biggest hits of 1817
Alexander's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1817Born
1822Started school
1830Became a teenager
1833Could drive
1835Could vote
1838Turned 21
1847Turned 30
1857Turned 40
1867Turned 50
President: Andrew Johnson
1874Died at 57
President: Ulysses S. Grant
Key Achievements
- Served as a U.S. Representative from New York during the politically volatile 1850s.
- Elected to two terms in Congress, contributing to legislative debates in the pre- and post-Civil War periods.
- Served as a Justice of the New York Supreme Court, presiding over significant state-level cases.
Did You Know?
He was admitted to the New York bar at the age of 21.
He represented New York's 19th congressional district.
His middle name was Hamilton.
“The law must be a stable force, even when the politics are not.”
