Amasa J. Parker - Political Career

Political Career

Parker was elected as a Democrat to the 25th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839, as the representative from Delaware and Broome counties. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law. In 1844, he moved to Albany, New York and was Judge of the Third Circuit from 1844 to 1847. In 1847 he was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court for the third district, and in 1854 was one of the ex officio judges of the New York Court of Appeals.

He was one of the founders of the Albany (New York) Law School in 1851. He was twice defeated as a Democratic candidate for Governor of New York, in 1856 by Republican John Alsop King, and in 1858 by Republican Edwin D. Morgan. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867. He was an active advocate of the reforms by which the court of chancery was abolished, law and equity powers vested in the same tribunal, and the practice of the courts simplified.

He died in Albany, New York and was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery.