Alfred C. Chapin Explained

Birth Name:Alfred Clark Chapin
Birth Date:8 March 1848
Birth Place:South Hadley, Massachusetts, United States
Death Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Alma Mater:Williams College
Harvard Law School
Office:Member of the House of Representatives from New York's 2nd District
Term Start:November 3, 1891
Term End:November 16, 1892
Predecessor:David A. Boody
Successor:John M. Clancy
Office1:Mayor of Brooklyn
Term Start1:1888
Term End1:1891
Predecessor1:Daniel D. Whitney
Successor1:David A. Boody
Office2:New York State Comptroller
Governor2:Grover Cleveland
David B. Hill
Term Start2:1884
Term End2:1887
Predecessor2:Ira Davenport
Successor2:Edward Wemple
Spouse:
    Parents:Ephraim Atlas Chapin
    Josephine Clark
    Relations:Hamilton Fish IV (grandson)
    Signature:Signature of Alfred Clark Chapin (1848–1936).png

    Alfred Clark Chapin (March 8, 1848  - October 2, 1936) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the Mayor of Brooklyn and for one year as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1891 to 1892.

    Early life

    Chapin was born to Ephraim Atlas Chapin who had interests in the railroad and Josephine, née Clark. He had a younger sister Alice Chapin who was an actress and suffragette.[1]

    He attended the public and private schools and graduated from Williams College (in Williamstown, Massachusetts) in 1869,[2] and from Harvard Law School in 1871. He was admitted to the bar in 1872 and commenced practice in New York City with residence in Brooklyn.

    Political career

    He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Kings Co., 11th D.) in 1882 and 1883, and was Speaker in 1883. On January 13, 1882, he was injured in the same train accident in which State Senator Webster Wagner was killed.

    He was New York State Comptroller from 1884 to 1887, elected at the New York state election, 1883 and the New York state election, 1885.

    He was Mayor of Brooklyn from 1888 to 1891.

    Tenure in Congress

    Chapin was elected as a Democrat to the 52nd United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of David A. Boody and served from November 3, 1891, to November 16, 1892, when he resigned.

    Later life

    Chapin served as railroad commissioner of New York State from 1892 to 1897, and continued the practice of law, He was also financially interested in various enterprises. He also owned a summer home in Murray Bay, Quebec.[2]

    Personal life

    On February 20, 1884,[2] Chapin was married to Grace Stebbins (1860–1908).[3] She was the daughter of Alice Holmes Schieffelin (1838–1913) and Russell Stebbins (1835–1894) and the granddaughter of Samuel Schieffelin, a religious author and businessman. Together, they were the parents of:

    After his first wife's death in 1908, he remarried to Charlotte (née Storrs) Montant (1860–1942),[6] the widow of Charles Montant, on January 6, 1913.[7]

    Chapin died in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel while on a visit in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1936.[8] Chapin's grandson Hamilton Fish IV also was a U.S. Representative from New York.[9]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Maggie B. Gale, "Chapin, Harold (1886–1915)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, September 2015, accessed November 9, 2017
    2. Web site: Alfred Clark Chapin (1848–1936). specialcollections.williams.edu. Special Collections of Williams College. 18 January 2018.
    3. News: Mrs. A. C. Chapin Dead; End Came Suddenly; Wife of ex-Mayor of Brooklyn, a Noted Beauty, Taken Ill Only Last Friday. At the Opera a Week Ago; She Was a Member of the Schieffelin Family, and a Leader in Metropolitan Society. . 2021-04-30. . 11 . 11 December 1908 . Newspapers.com.
    4. News: Mrs. Hamilton Fish Dies; Wife of Ex-Representative Was Former Grace Chapin. 18 January 2018. The New York Times. 4 July 1960 . subscription.
    5. News: Pace. Eric. Hamilton Fish, in Congress 24 Years, Dies at 102. 2021-04-30 . . January 20, 1991.
    6. News: Mrs. Alfred C. Chapin; Widow of One-Time Mayor of Brooklyn Dies in Murray Bay. 18 January 2018. The New York Times. 2 September 1942. subscription.
    7. News: Ex-Mayor Chapin Marries; Former Brooklyn Executive Wedded to Mrs. Charles L. Montant . 2021-04-30 . . 11 . January 7, 1913 . NewspaperArchive.
    8. News: Ex-Mayor Chapin of Brooklyn Dies; Retired Lawyer, 88, Had Also Been State Controller and Speaker of Assembly . 18 January 2018 . . 3 October 1936 . subscription.
    9. Web site: Chapin, Alfred Clark - Biographical Information. bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 18 January 2018.