Hervey Chittenden Calkin (March 23, 1828 – April 20, 1913) was an American tradesman and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1869 to 1871,

Hervey Chittenden Calkin
Calkin circa 1860–1870
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th congressional district
In office
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871
Preceded byJohn Winthrop Chanler
Succeeded bySmith Ely, Jr.
Personal details
Born(1828-03-23)March 23, 1828
Malden, New York, US
DiedApril 20, 1913(1913-04-20) (aged 85)
Bronx, New York City, US
Resting placeWoodlawn Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic

Life and career

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Hervey Calkin was born in Malden, New York on March 23, 1828. He was educated locally, and moved to New York City in 1847.[1]

Calkin was employed in the Morgan Iron Works for five years.[2] In 1852 he commenced business as a plumber and coppersmith in partnership with his brother. He also sold other metalware, including stoves and tinware.[3]

Calkin also became an advocate for the creation of a domestic shipbuilding industry, as opposed to buying ships from England.[4]

Tenure in Congress

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He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-first Congress and served from (March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1870.[5]

Later career

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After leaving Congress, Calkin resumed his former business pursuits in New York City until retiring in 1904. In 1871 he received a patent for a life raft made of two cylindrical metal floats with conical ends and a plank deck.[6]

Death

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He died in the Bronx on April 20, 1913, and was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery.[7]

References

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  1. ^ New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Weehawken Street Historic District Designation Report Archived 2013-06-29 at the Wayback Machine, 2006, page 30
  2. ^ Ben Perley Poore, Congressional Directory for the First Session of the Forty-First Congress, 1869, page 30
  3. ^ John F. Trow, publisher, Trow's New York City Directory, 1862, page 134
  4. ^ Hervey C. Calkin, Speech to the U.S. House of Representatives: Shall We Build Our Own Ships Or Purchase Them from England, May 18, 1870
  5. ^ New York Times, Forty-First Congress, December 5, 1870
  6. ^ National Museum of American History, America on the Move, Life Raft Patent Model, Hervey C. Calkin, accessed January 19, 2013
  7. ^ Thomas E. Spencer, Where They're Buried, 2009, page 233

External resources

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  • United States Congress. "Hervey C. Calkin (id: C000047)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th congressional district

1869 - 1871
Succeeded by

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress