Edwin Atkins Merritt

Edward Atkins Merritt
U.S. Consul General, London, England
In office 1881–1885
Preceded by	Adam Badeau
Succeeded by	Thomas M. Waller
Collector of the Port of New York
In office 1878–1881
Preceded by	Chester A. Arthur
Succeeded by	William H. Robertson
Surveyor of the Port of New York
In office 1877–1878
Preceded by	George H. Sharpe
Succeeded by	Charles K. Graham
Naval Officer for the Port of New York
In office 1869–1870
Preceded by	John Adams Dix
Succeeded by	Moses H. Grinnell
Member of the New York State Assembly from the St. Lawrence County, 2nd District
In office 1860–1861
Preceded by	William Briggs
Succeeded by	James Redington
Clerk of the St. Lawrence County Board of Supervisors
In office 1857–1861
Preceded by	Martin Thatcher
Succeeded by	Stillman Foote
Town Supervisor of Pierrepont, New York
In office 1854–1857
Preceded by	Peter F. Ryerson
Succeeded by	Benjamin F. Hamilton
Personal details
Born	(1828-02-26)February 26, 1828 Sudbury, Vermont, US
Died	December 26, 1916(1916-12-26) (aged 88) Potsdam, New York, US
Resting place	Pierrepont Hill Cemetery, Pierrepont, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Eliza Rich (m. 1858)
Relations	Edwin Albert Merritt (son)
Occupation	Teacher Surveyor Engineer Public official
Military service
Branch/service	Union Army New York Militia
Years of service	1861–1864 (Army) 1865-1869 (Militia)
Rank	Captain (Army) Brigadier general (Militia)
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Edwin Atkins Merritt (February 26, 1828 – December 26, 1916) was an American politician, civil service reformer and diplomat. He served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War, and was a brigadier general in the New York Militia. In addition, he served in the New York State Assembly, and held the appointive post of Collector of the Port of New York.

Life

Edwin A. Merritt was born in Sudbury, Vermont, on February 26, 1828, the son of Nodiah Merritt and Relief (Parker) Merritt. He was raised and educated in Essex County, New York, and attended St. Lawrence Academy to receive his teaching qualification. In addition to teaching, Merritt also worked as a surveyor and engineer.

From 1854 to 1857, Merritt was Town Supervisor of Pierrepont, New York. From 1857 to 1861 he was Clerk of the St. Lawrence County Board of Supervisors. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (St. Lawrence Co., 2nd D.) in 1860 and 1861.

During the American Civil War he served in the Union Army as quartermaster of the 60th New York Volunteer Infantry with the rank of captain, and took part in campaigns in Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. He was later stationed in Washington, D.C., and assigned to supply reinforcements departing for the front lines. In January 1865 he was appointed Quartermaster General of the New York Militia with the rank of brigadier general, a position he held until 1869.

In April 1865, Merritt was New York's official representative at the second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. He was a delegate to the 1867 state constitutional convention, and from 1869 to 1870 he was U.S. Naval Officer for the Port of New York, one of the three political appointees (collector, surveyor, and naval officer) who collected customs duties and fined importers who attempted to evade payment.

In 1871, he declined appointment as U.S. Minister to Brazil. In 1875 he ran on the Republican ticket for New York State Treasurer, but was defeated by Democrat Charles N. Ross. In 1877, Merritt was appointed Surveyor of the Port of New York, and in 1878 he was selected to serve as Collector, succeeding Chester A. Arthur. He served until 1881, when he was appointed U.S. Consul General in London, where he served until 1885.

Long interested in higher education, Merritt was a trustee of St. Lawrence University and Clarkson University, and was active in the creation of what is now the State University of New York at Potsdam. Merritt died in Potsdam, New York, on December 26, 1916. He was buried at Pierrepont Hill Cemetery in Pierrepont.

Family

In 1858, Merritt married Eliza Rich of Pierrepont. Their son Edwin Albert Merritt was a Congressman from New York.

References

• "General Edwin A. Merritt" (PDF). New York Times. December 27, 1916. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
• "Index to Politicians: Merritt". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 21, 2010.