Caleb LYON, Congress, NY (1822-1875)

LYON Caleb , a Representative from New York; born in Greig, N.Y., December 7, 1822; attended the common school in Lyondale and the schools in Montreal, Canada; was graduated from Norwich University, Northfield, Vt., in 1841; widely known as an extensive traveler and student of foreign countries and customs; became a noted lecturer, poet, author, and writer; appointed United States consul to Shanghai, China, in 1847, but intrusted the office to a deputy and moved to California, where he was chosen a secretary of the California constitutional convention; was the designer of the State seal adopted in 1849; returned to Lyonsdale, N.Y., and was elected to the State assembly in 1850; resigned after opposing Erie Canal improvement; served in the State senate in 1851; active in State and local improvements and free schools; elected as an Independent to the Thirty-third Congress (March 4, 1853-March 3, 1855); moved to Staten Island, N.Y.; Governor of the Territory of Idaho 1864-1865; successfully negotiated the treaty for lands with the Shoshone Indians; returned to his home, ``Lyonsmere,'' in Rossville, Staten Island, N.Y., where he died September 8, 1875; interment in Greenwood Cemetery, New York City.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present