George Briggs (New York politician)


George Briggs was an American politician and a United States Representative from New York.

Biography

Born near Broadalbin, Fulton County, New York Briggs moved to Vermont in 1812 with his parents, who settled in Bennington. He attended the public schools.

Career

Biggs engaged in business as a dealer in hardware and was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1837. He returned to New York, settling in New York City in 1838 and continuing in the hardware business.
Elected as a Whig to the 31st and 32nd United States Congresses, Biggs was United States Representative for the fifth district of New York from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1852.
Briggs was then elected as a Republican to the 36th United States Congress, and was United States Representative for the seventh district of New York from March 4, 1859, to March 3, 1861. During the thirty-sixth Congress, he was Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1860 and retired. In 1866 he was a delegate to the National Union Convention at Philadelphia.

Death

Briggs died at his summer home, "Woodlawn," at Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York, on June 1, 1869. He is interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.