George Chambers was born on February 24, 1786 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the grandson of Benjamin Chambers, a native of Antrim, Ireland, but of Scotch descent, who landed at Philadelphia in 1726 and settled near the present site of Chambersburg. Benjamin's son, also Benjamin, married Sarah, daughter of George Brown, a neighbor.
Education
The family was well off, and George received a good classical education, proceeded to Princeton in October 1802, and graduated with honors in 1804. He then studied law at Chambersburg and Carlisle.
Career
On his admission to the Cumberland County bar, November 9, 1807, he opened an office at Chambersburg, with every advantage which respected parentage and large local interests can confer. Devoting himself more particularly to the law of conveyancing and real property, probably because of his father's extensive land holdings, he in time acquired the reputation of being an expert in the intricate and obscure land laws of Pennsylvania. He entered public life through municipal channels, being elected a member of the Chambersburg town council in 1821, and serving as burgess from 1829 to 1833. In 1832 he was elected to Congress as Whig representative of Adams and Franklin counties, and served two terms, being reelected in 1834. He was a delegate from Franklin County to the Pennsylvania state constitutional convention which met at Harrisburg, May 2, 1837. A bitter controversy arose in the convention anent the judiciary article, it being proposed to substitute a short tenure for judges in place of the original tenure during good behavior. This change Chambers resolutely but unsuccessfully opposed. Nominated by the Whig state convention of that year for continuance in office, he suffered defeat in common with the whole Whig ticket, and thereafter neither sought nor held any public position. He did not resume his law practise, but devoted much time to the promotion of education and agricultural science in his community. He also engaged in literary work, publishing A Tribute to the Principles, Virtues, Habits and Public Usefulness of the Irish and Scotch Early Settlers of Pennsylvania (1856). In addition, he prepared a biography of the Rev. John McDowell and an elaborate local history, with particular reference to the laws and usages appertaining to land. The manuscripts of these works, together with a mass of valuable private papers, were destroyed when the Confederate forces burned Chambersburg, July 30, 1864.
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Personality
Quotes from others about the person
"He did not often appear in the trial of criminal cases, but led all other members of the Bar in civil suits and Orphans' Court business was dignified, reserved and courteous. He had few intimates, and perhaps the general public regarded him as aristocratic, and but little disposed to concern himself about his fellow men" (John M. Cooper, post).
Connections
Chambers was married to Alice A. , daughter of W. Lyon, of Cumberland County.