Luther Badger

Luther Badger (April 10, 1785 Partridgefield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts – 1869 Jordan, Onondaga County, New York) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

Life

He was the son of Lemuel Badger (1754–1839) and Sabra (Smith) Badger (1759–1850). In 1786, the family removed to a farm on the bank of the Susquehanna River in Harpursville, Broome County, NY. He attended Hamilton-Oneida Academy for two years but did not graduate. In 1807, he began to study law with William Eager in Jamesville, and in 1810 entered the law office of Randall & Wattles in New Hartford. In 1811, he married Eunice Wells (1780–1845). Badger was admitted to the bar in 1812, and practiced in Jamesville until 1824 when he retired from the bar.

In 1809, he joined the New York State Militia as a sergeant major, was promoted to quartermaster in 1812, eventually became a brigadier general in 1819, and was judge advocate of the 27th Brigade of Infantry from 1820 to 1827 when he retired from military service.

Badger was elected as an Adams man to the 19th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1827. Afterwards he engaged in mercantile pursuits.

In 1832, he returned to his old home in Harpursville, and resumed the practice of law. He was District Attorney of Broome County from 1847 to 1849 when he resigned and resumed his private practice in Jordan, NY. On August 28, 1845, he married Betsey (Dimock) Avery (b. 1806, sister of Davis Dimock, Jr.)

He was buried at the Jordan Cemetery.

References

• Luther Badger at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 71 and 370; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
• Monthly Biographical Magazine edited by John Livingston (New York and London, 1852; pages 117ff, with portrait)
• The New York Annual Register by Edwin Williams (New York, 1834; page 330)
• The Papers of Henry Clay (Vol. 6; page 529)
• Badger genealogy