George Folsom

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George Folsom (May 23, 1802 Kennebunk, York County, District of Maine – March 27, 1869 Rome, Italy) was an American lawyer, historian, librarian, diplomat and politician from New York.

Life

He was the son of Thomas Folsom (1769–1844), a jeweller and tavern-keeper, and Edna (Ela) Folsom (1775–1851). The family removed to Portland, Maine in 1809. George graduated from Harvard College in 1822. Then he studied law with U.S. Attorney Ether Shepley in Saco, Maine, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Worcester, Massachusetts. While studying law he prepared the History of Saco and Biddeford (on-line copy; 331 pages) which was published in 1830. He became a member of the American Antiquarian Society, was chosen the society's librarian and in 1835 was Chairman of the Publishing Committee.

About 1837, he removed to New York City, and practiced law there. He married Margaret Cornelia Winthrop (1801–1863), and their children were Margaret Winthrop Folsom (1842–1925), Helen Stuyvesant Folsom (b. 1843) and George Winthrop Folsom (1846–1915). He also became a member of the New York Historical Society, and was chosen the society's librarian, and one of the secretaries. In 1843, he translated and published The Despatches of Hernando Cortes (on-line copy; 431 pages).

He was an American Republican member of the New York State Senate (1st D.) from 1845 to 1847, sitting in the 68th, 69th and 70th New York State Legislatures. At the New York state election, 1846, he ran on the American ticket for Lieutenant Governor of New York. He was U.S. Chargé d'affaires to the Netherlands from 1850 to 1853.

In 1860, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of law from the University of Vermont.

Sources

The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 134f and 140; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
Obit in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (1869, VOL. XXIII, pg. 481f)
The Death of Hon. George Folsom in NYT on April 11, 1869
MISS FOLSOM DYING in NYT on July 18, 1909
G. WINTHROP FOLSOM DIES in NYT on March 30, 1915
INSANE 56 YEARS; LEAVES $2,000,000; Margaret Winthrop Folsom, Once New York Society Girl, Dies in Asylum Near Boston in NYT on September 17, 1925

New York State Senate
Preceded by John B. Scott	New York State Senate First District (Class 2) 1845–1847	Succeeded by district abolished
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Auguste Davezac	U.S. Chargé d'affaires to the Netherlands 1850–1853	Succeeded by August Belmont

Authority control	WorldCat VIAF: 60487382 LCCN: n84135912

Persondata
Name	Folsom, George
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	May 23, 1802
Place of birth
Date of death	March 27, 1869
Place of death

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