US Congressman from New York. He was the grandson of William Floyd, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. John Floyd graduated from Hamilton College in 1824, studied law, and became an attorney in Utica in 1825. He was Oneida County Clerk and District Attorney from 1829 to 1833. In 1836 Floyd founded the Utica Democrat newspaper, later known as the Observer-Dispatch. He was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1838 and reelected in 1840, serving from 1839 to 1843. In 1842 he returned to Mastic and was appointed Suffolk County Judge. He served in the New York Senate in 1848 and 1849. In 1850 he was again elected to the US Congress, holding office from 1851 to 1853 and serving as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. An opponent of slavery, he joined the Republican Party when it was formed in 1856. After leaving Congress he practiced law in New York City and worked to sell for development much of the extensive William Floyd estate in Suffolk County.
US Congressman from New York. He was the grandson of William Floyd, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. John Floyd graduated from Hamilton College in 1824, studied law, and became an attorney in Utica in 1825. He was Oneida County Clerk and District Attorney from 1829 to 1833. In 1836 Floyd founded the Utica Democrat newspaper, later known as the Observer-Dispatch. He was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1838 and reelected in 1840, serving from 1839 to 1843. In 1842 he returned to Mastic and was appointed Suffolk County Judge. He served in the New York Senate in 1848 and 1849. In 1850 he was again elected to the US Congress, holding office from 1851 to 1853 and serving as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. An opponent of slavery, he joined the Republican Party when it was formed in 1856. After leaving Congress he practiced law in New York City and worked to sell for development much of the extensive William Floyd estate in Suffolk County.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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