Background
Samuel Beardsley was born on February 6, 1790, at Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York. His parents, Obadiah and Eunice (Moore) Beardsley, removed to a farm at Monticello, Otsego County, while he was an infant.
Samuel Beardsley was born on February 6, 1790, at Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York. His parents, Obadiah and Eunice (Moore) Beardsley, removed to a farm at Monticello, Otsego County, while he was an infant.
Attending school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer, Samuel manifested a love for books and made sufficient progress in learning to become a schoolteacher. Ambitious for a professional career, he first studied medicine with Dr. Joseph White at Cherry Valley and then at the age of eighteen turned to law, entering the office of Judge Hathaway in Rome. During this period he supported himself by clerking in the post office and serving as clerk in the county surrogate's court.
After admission to the bar, Beardsley practised law in Watertown for a year, and then settled in Rome. In 1813 he joined the militia to defend Sackett's Harbor and in 1815 he was made captain. Three years later he was appointed brigade judge advocate, and in 1820 his name appeared as major in the Oneida County militia. Meanwhile this military duty did not prevent the young lawyer from serving as town clerk in 1817 and county supervisor in 1818-1820. He was appointed district attorney of Oneida County in 1821 and by this time had gained the reputation of being a well-informed and able lawyer. Chosen state senator for the 5th district on the Democratic ticket in 1822, he held that office for but one year because of the determination of tenure by lot.
In 1823 Beardsley removed to Utica and the same year President Monroe appointed him United States attorney for northern New York, a post he retained for seven years, refusing in 1824 appointment as first judge of Oneida County. Well-known and highly respected in 1830, he was elected to Congress as a Democrat and was subsequently reëeected three times. His speech on the currency question in 1834 attracted national attention for both its eloquence and partisanship. An ardent champion of President Jackson, he became one of the President's confidential advisers and the leader of his party in New York. Fearless and outspoken in his convictions on public questions, he was regarded as a progressive leader and defender of free speech and of the right of petition. Jackson and his friends persuaded him, when nominated as circuit judge in 1834 by Gov. Marcy, to remain in Washington.
In 1836 Beardsley accepted the office of attorney-general of New York, which he filled acceptably for three years. In 1844 Gov. Bouck promoted him to an associate judgeship in the New York supreme court and three years later he became chief justice, the last person to hold the honor in the old supreme court. When the new supreme court was put on an elective basis in 1847, not being among the justices chosen, he resumed the practise of law at Utica. For several years important legal business induced him to reside in New York City. Henceforth his time was devoted almost exclusively to important cases in the court of appeals. He was described by those who knew him best as an ideal judge because of his patient and thorough investigation of every case, his wide legal knowledge, his impartial decisions, his quick perceptions, and his uniform courtesy and dignity.
Samuel Beardsley was a member of the New York Senate from the 5th district (1823); the U. S. House of Representatives from New York's 14th district (1831-1833); the U. S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district (1833-1836); the U. S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th district (1843-1844).
As a lawyer Samuel Beardsley held high rank, and in terse, vigorous, discerning argument he had few equals, although his manner was constrained and his diction not always graceful. A tall, commanding figure with a large, well-formed head, he was an able leader whose antagonism was felt by his opponents. A weakened vision gave his face the appearance of frowning, but his eyes beamed with kindness and his voice was cordial.
In 1816, Samuel Beardsley was married to Sarah Hathaway, the daughter of Joshua Hathawa.