Nehemiah Perry (politician)

This article is about the U.S. Representative from New Jersey. For the Jamaican cricketer, see Nehemiah Perry.

Nehemiah Perry
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th district
In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1865
Preceded by	William Pennington
Succeeded by	Edwin R. V. Wright
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
In office 1850 1856
Personal details
Born	March 30, 1816 Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
Died	November 1, 1881 (aged 65) Newark, New Jersey, USA
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Politician, Clerk, Cloth Manufacturer

Nehemiah Perry (March 30, 1816 – November 1, 1881) was an American clerk, cloth manufacturer and Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1861 to 1865.

Born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Perry was educated there at Wesleyan Seminary. He clerked in a store in Norwalk, Connecticut and another in New York City. He moved to Newark, New Jersey in 1836 and engaged in manufacturing cloth and other work in the clothing business. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1850 and 1856, serving as Speaker of the Assembly in the latter year. He was a member of the Newark Common Council in 1852.

Perry was elected a Democrat to Congress in 1860, defeating the incumbent Republican Speaker of the House, William Pennington. Perry served from 1861 to 1865, not seeking re-election in 1864. Afterwards, Perry resumed former manufacturing pursuits and was mayor of Newark, New Jersey in 1873. He died in Newark on November 1, 1881 and was interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark.

External links

• Nehemiah Perry at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Nehemiah Perry at The Political Graveyard
• Nehemiah Perry at Find a Grave