Richard Cutts Shannon (February 12, 1839 – October 5, 1920) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Richard Cutts Shannon
United States Minister to Costa Rica
In office
October 31, 1891 – April 30, 1893
PresidentBenjamin Harrison
Preceded byRomualdo Pacheco
Succeeded byLewis Baker
United States Minister to Nicaragua
In office
October 13, 1891 – April 30, 1893
PresidentBenjamin Harrison
Preceded byRomualdo Pacheco
Succeeded byLewis Baker
United States Minister to El Salvador
In office
October 31, 1891 – April 30, 1893
PresidentBenjamin Harrison
Preceded byRomualdo Pacheco
Succeeded byLewis Baker
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th district
In office
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899
Preceded byJohn De Witt Warner
Succeeded byJefferson Levy
Personal details
Born(1839-02-12)February 12, 1839
New London, Connecticut
DiedOctober 5, 1920(1920-10-05) (aged 81)
Brockport, New York
Resting placeLake View Cemetery
Brockport, New York
43°11′29″N 77°56′23″W / 43.1914°N 77.9397°W / 43.1914; -77.9397
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican

Biography

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Born in New London, Connecticut, Shannon was graduated from the grammar and high schools at Biddeford, Maine, and from Waterville College (now Colby College), Maine. During the Civil War enlisted in Company H, Fifth Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, June 24, 1861. He was appointed first lieutenant October 10, 1861. He served as aide-de-camp to General Slocum March 15, 1862. He served as captain and assistant adjutant general of Volunteers October 2, 1862. Honorably discharged February 10, 1866. He was appointed secretary of the United States legation at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1871, and served until March 1875, when he resigned. Took charge of the Botanical Garden Railroad Co. in 1876, an American enterprise in Brazil, of which he subsequently became the vice president, general manager, and president. He returned to the United States in 1883 and was graduated from the law department of Columbia College, New York City, in 1885. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1886 and commenced practice in New York City. He was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica in 1891, and served until April 1893.

Shannon was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899). He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1898. He resumed the practice of his profession in New York City. He retired in 1903 and moved to Brockport, New York, where he died October 5, 1920. He was interred in Lake View Cemetery.

References

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  • United States Congress. "Richard C. Shannon (id: S000288)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-02-15
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th congressional district

1895–1899
Succeeded by

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