George Sykes (New Jersey politician) explained

George Sykes
State1:New Jersey
District1:2nd
Party:Democratic
Term1:March 4, 1843  - March 3, 1845
Preceded1:Six congressmen elected statewide on the Whig Party's general ticket:
John Bancker Aycrigg
William Halstead
John Patterson Bryan Maxwell
Joseph Fitz Randolph
Charles C. Stratton
Thomas J. Yorke
Succeeded1:Samuel G. Wright (W)
Term2:November 4, 1845  - March 3, 1847
Preceded2:Samuel G. Wright (W)
Succeeded2:William A. Newell (W)
Office3:Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
Term3:1877–1879
Birth Date:September 20, 1802
Birth Place:Sykesville, New Jersey
Death Place:Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey
Profession:Politician

George Sykes (September 20, 1802 – February 25, 1880) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1843 to 1845, and was reelected in 1845 to fill a vacancy, serving until 1847.

Biography

Sykes was born in Sykesville, in North Hanover Township on September 20, 1802. He was educated by private teachers, and became a surveyor and conveyancer.

Congress

He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth Congress, serving in office from March 4, 1843, to March 3, 1845. He was elected to the Twenty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel G. Wright, and served from November 4, 1845, to March 3, 1847.

USS Princeton incident

He was a passenger aboard the USS Princeton on February 28, 1844, when one of its guns exploded killing six, including two members of President John Tyler's cabinet.[1]

Later career and death

After leaving Congress, he served as a member of the council of properties of West Jersey and was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1877 to 1879. He died near Mansfield Township, on February 25, 1880, and was interred in Old Upper Springfield Friends Burying Ground near Wrightstown, New Jersey.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Holland, Jesse J. . 178 . The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African American Slaves in the White House . Guilford, Connecticut . 2016 . Lyons Press.