Nathan Sanford was an American Senator from New York.
Background
Nathan was born on November 5, 1777 at Bridgehampton, Long Island, New York, United States. He was descended from Robert Sanford, an early settler of Hartford, Connecticut, through his son Ezekiel, who was one of the first settlers of eastern Long Island. The son of Thomas Sanford and his wife Phebe (Baker), widow of Theophilus Howell.
Education
He received his early education at Clinton Academy, Easthampton, and at Yale, although he did not graduate. In New York City he studied law in the office of the elder Samuel Jones.
Career
He was admitted to the bar in 1799. In 1802 he became a leader of the Tammany faction of the Jeffersonian Republican party and during the next twenty-nine years was almost continuously in public office. He was United States commissioner of bankruptcy in 1802, and from 1803 to 1815 held the lucrative post of United States attorney for the district of New York, from which he was thought to have derived $100, 000 annually in fees (The Diary of Philip Hone, 1927, ed. by Allan Nevins, II, 526).
He was a member of the assembly in 1808-09 and 1811, being speaker in 1811 until forced to retire on account of illness, was state senator, 1812-15, and United States senator, 1815-21. Though a candidate for reelection to the Senate he was thrust aside by his party in favor of Van Buren.
On the retirement of James Kent, Aug. 1, 1823, he became chancellor and served until Jan. 24, 1826. He was an unsuccessful candidate for vice-president in 1824, and two years later once more became United States senator, serving from Jan. 31, 1826, to Mar. 3, 1831.
In 1830 he presented a Report on the currency (Register of Debates in Congress, vol. VII) which was the basis of subsequent legislation.
He died, at Flushing, L. I, from a pulmonary affection of long standing, having carried on an active existence, to the wonder of physicians, for a quarter of a century after he had lost the use of one lung.
Achievements
Politics
In 1802 he became a leader of the Tammany faction of the Jeffersonian Republican party and during the next twenty-nine years was almost continuously in public office.
Personality
Sanford's opinions were characterized by clarity, good sense, and the absence of attempts to parade his legal learning.
Interests
Besides his interests in law and public affairs he was a student of foreign languages and delighted in reading the Latin poets.
Connections
He was married three times - on May 9, 1801, to Eliza Van Horne of New York, who died in 1811; on Apr. 14, 1813, to Mary Isaacs of New Haven; and subsequently to Mary Buchanan of Baltimore, each of whom bore him one or more children.