| Alfred Conkling | |
| Office: | United States Minister to Mexico |
| Term Start: | August 6, 1852 |
| Term End: | August 17, 1853 |
| Appointer: | Millard Fillmore |
| Predecessor: | Robert P. Letcher |
| Successor: | James Gadsden |
| Office1: | Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York |
| Term Start1: | December 14, 1825 |
| Term End1: | August 25, 1852 |
| Appointer1: | John Quincy Adams |
| Predecessor1: | Roger Skinner |
| Successor1: | Nathan K. Hall |
| State2: | New York |
| District2: | 14th |
| Term Start2: | March 4, 1821 |
| Term End2: | March 3, 1823 |
| Predecessor2: | John Fay |
| Successor2: | Henry R. Storrs |
| Birth Name: | Alfred Conkling |
| Birth Date: | 12 October 1789 |
| Birth Place: | Amagansett, New York, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Utica, New York, U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Forest Hill Cemetery Utica, New York, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic-Republican Whig |
| Children: | 5, including Frederick, Roscoe |
| Relatives: | Alfred Conkling Coxe Sr. (grandson) |
| Education: | Union College |
| Profession: | Attorney |
Alfred Conkling (October 12, 1789 – February 5, 1874) was a United States representative from New York, a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and United States Minister to Mexico.
Conkling was born on October 12, 1789, in Amagansett, New York.[1] He was the son of Benjamin Conkling and Esther Hand.[2]
He graduated from Union College in 1810 and read law in 1812.
He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Johnstown, New York, from 1812 to 1813. He continued private practice in Canajoharie, New York, from 1813 to 1819. He was district attorney for Montgomery County, New York, from 1819 to 1821.
Conkling was elected as a Democratic-Republican from New York's 14th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 17th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1821, to March 3, 1823. Following his departure from Congress, he resumed private practice in Albany, New York, from 1823 to 1825.
Conkling received a recess appointment from President John Quincy Adams on August 27, 1825, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York vacated by Judge Roger Skinner. He was nominated to the same position by President Adams on December 13, 1825. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 14, 1825, and received his commission the same day. While on the bench, he moved from Albany to Auburn, New York, in 1839. There were several attempts to impeach him, but they failed. His service terminated on August 25, 1852, due to his resignation.
Conkling was United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico for the United States Department of State from August 6, 1852, to August 17, 1853. He resumed private practice in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1853 to 1861. He was a writer in Rochester and Geneseo, New York, from 1861 to 1872. He was a writer in Utica, New York, from 1872 to 1874.
On May 5, 1812, Conkling was married to Elizabeth "Eliza" Cockburn (1791–1851). Together, they were the parents of five children, including:[3]
Conkling died on February 5, 1874, in Utica. He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica.
Conkling's grandson Alfred Conkling Coxe Sr. also served as United States District Judge in the Northern District of New York, and later a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit;[3] Coxe's own son (Conkling's great-grandson) Alfred Conkling Coxe Jr. was a Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.[3]
A photograph of Judge Conkling hangs in the courtroom at the United States District Court in Utica, New York.