Collamer, Jacob

Collamer, Jacob

(1792–1865) judge, U.S. representative/senator; born in Troy, N.Y. He served in the War of 1812 and then practiced law in Vermont (1813–33). He was judge of the Vermont Superior Court (1833–42, 1850–54). He served in the U.S. House of Representatives (Whig, Vt.; 1843–49) and was U.S. postmaster general (1849–50). As a U.S. senator from Vermont (Rep., 1855–65) he played an important role in granting broad powers to the federal government in fighting the Civil War. Vermont placed his statue in the U.S. Capitol.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.