Stephen N. Gifford

Stephen Nye Gifford (1815-1886) was an American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Massachusetts Auditor and was clerk of the Massachusetts Senate from January 6, 1858, to April 18, 1886.

Stephen Nye Gifford
3rd Massachusetts Auditor
In office 1855–1856
Governor	Henry Gardner
Preceded by	Joseph Mitchell
Succeeded by	Chandler R. Ranson
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1850, 1851 – 1852
Personal details
Born	July 21, 1815 Pembroke, Massachusetts
Died	April 18, 1886 (aged 71) Duxbury, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
Political party	Whig
Signature

Born in Pembroke, Massachusetts on July 21, 1815, he was educated at Hanover Academy and the academy at Bridgewater. As a young man he was employed as a schoolteacher, eventually establishing a private academy at Duxbury. In 1850 he was elected as a Whig to represent Duxbury in the state house of representatives. In 1851 he was appointed Inspector in the Boston Custom House; in 1855 he was chosen to supply a vacancy in the office of State Auditor. In 1855 and 1857 he served as assistant clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and in 1858 he became Clerk of the Senate, holding that post for 28 years until his death in 1886. During this time he was noted as a parliamentary expert and authority on technical points of legislation.

Bibliography

• Massachusetts Senate, A Memorial of Stephen Nye Gifford: Clerk of the Massachusetts Senate from January 6, 1858 to April 18, 1886. (1886).
• New York Times, Obituary – Stephen N. Gifford, Page 4, (April 19, 1886).
• Andrews, Geo. F. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Official Gazette. State Government, 1886. Pages 22–23, (1886).