U.S. Congressman. He was educated in Auburn, studied law, and became an attorney in the early 1820s. A Democrat, in the early 1830s he was Clerk of the Cayuga County Board of Supervisors, and from 1837 to 1841 he was Auburn's Postmaster. In 1842 he was elected to the US House of Representatives and served two terms, 1843 to 1847. In his first, he was Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, and in his second he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. In 1844 Rathbun made headlines when he was involved in a fistfight on the House floor with former Speaker John White. White objected to being denied more time to conclude a speech defending Henry Clay. Rathbun told White to be quiet in light of the Speaker's ruling, White confronted Rathbun, and Rathbun knocked White down. Both men later apologized to the House, and no further action was taken. As the national debate over slavery continued Rathbun became a Barnburner (antislavery Democrat), and he joined the Republican party soon after its founding in the mid-1850s. He was a Delegate to the 1867 New York constitutional convention and continued to practice law until his death.
U.S. Congressman. He was educated in Auburn, studied law, and became an attorney in the early 1820s. A Democrat, in the early 1830s he was Clerk of the Cayuga County Board of Supervisors, and from 1837 to 1841 he was Auburn's Postmaster. In 1842 he was elected to the US House of Representatives and served two terms, 1843 to 1847. In his first, he was Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, and in his second he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. In 1844 Rathbun made headlines when he was involved in a fistfight on the House floor with former Speaker John White. White objected to being denied more time to conclude a speech defending Henry Clay. Rathbun told White to be quiet in light of the Speaker's ruling, White confronted Rathbun, and Rathbun knocked White down. Both men later apologized to the House, and no further action was taken. As the national debate over slavery continued Rathbun became a Barnburner (antislavery Democrat), and he joined the Republican party soon after its founding in the mid-1850s. He was a Delegate to the 1867 New York constitutional convention and continued to practice law until his death.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Gravesite Details
Age 68 Date Buried 01/04/1870
Family Members
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