George Edward Wales

George Edward Wales
George E. Wales, Member of Congress from Vermont
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829
Preceded by	Henry Olin
Succeeded by	Horace Everett
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1822–1824
Personal details
Born	May 13, 1792 Westminster, Vermont, U.S.
Died	January 8, 1860 (aged 67) Hartford, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Whig Party (United States)
Spouse(s)	Amanda Lathrop Wales[1]
Alma mater	Dartmouth College, University of Vermont
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

George Edward Wales (May 13, 1792 – January 8, 1860) was an American politician from Vermont. He served as a U.S. Representative from Vermont.

Biography

Wales was born in Westminster, Vermont and attended the common schools in Westminster.^[2] He studied law with Stephen R. Bradley in Westminster and with Titus Hutchinson (who later served as Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court) in Woodstock and was admitted to the bar in 1812.^[3] He moved to Hartford, Vermont in 1813 and began the practice of law.

He served as clerk and treasurer of the White River Bridge Company from 1818 until 1825.^[4] He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1822 until 1824, and served as Speaker in 1822, 1823 and 1824.^[5] Wales earned honorary degrees from Dartmouth College in 1823 and the University of Vermont in 1825.^[6]

Wales was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a National Republican and served in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Congresses, March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1829.^[7] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1828 to the Twenty-First Congress.^[8] After leaving Congress he resumed the practice of law.

He later joined the Whig Party. Wales was elected town clerk in Hartford in 1840, and served in that position until his death.^[9] From 1847 to 1850 he was Judge of the Probate Court for the district which included Windsor County.

Wales was a trustee of Norwich University from 1845 until 1857.^[10] Wales served as judge of probate for the Hartford district from 1847 until 1850.^[11]

Personal life

Wales married Amanda Lathrop Wales in 1813, and they had seven children.^[12]

Wales joined the Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Vermont in 1812, and was the state Grand Master from 1825 to 1827.^[13]

Death

Wales died on January 8, 1860 in Hartford, and was interred in Hartford Point Cemetery.^[14]

References

1. "Amanda Lathrop Wales". Find A Grave. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
2. Dodge, Prentiss Cutler (1912). Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 1912. Ullery Publishing Company. p. 70.
3. United States Government Printing Office (1918). Congressional serial set. United States Government Printing Office. p. 1083.
4. Ellis, William Arba (1911). Norwich University, 1819-1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor. Capital City Press. p. 19.
5. Vermont History. 1921. p. 154.
6. Tucker, William Howard (1889). History of Hartford, Vermont, July 4, 1761-April 4, 1889: The First Town on the New Hampshire Grants Chartered After the Close of the French War. Free Press Association. p. 384.
7. "Rep. George Wales". Govtrack.us. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
8. "WALES, George Edward, (1792 - 1860)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
9. Vermont Historical Society (1921). Proceedings of the Vermont Historical Society. Vermont Historical Society. p. 154.
10. Ellis, William Arba (1911). Norwich University, 1819-1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor. Capital City Press. p. 19.
11. "Wales, George Edward (1792-1860)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
12. "Amanda Lathrop Wales". Find A Grave. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
13. Tucker, William Howard (1889). History of Hartford, Vermont, July 4, 1761-April 4, 1889: The First Town on the New Hampshire Grants Chartered After the Close of the French War. Free Press Association. p. 384.
14. "George E. Wales". Find A Grave. Retrieved November 21, 2012.

Further reading

• History of Hartford, Vermont, July 4, 1761-April 4, 1889: The First Town on the New Hampshire Grants Chartered After the Close of the French War by William Howard Tucker, published by the Free Press Association in 1889.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard: Wales, George Edward (1792-1860)
• govtrack.us: Rep. George Wales
• Find A Grave: George E. Wales

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.