John Gelston Floyd (February 5, 1806 – October 5, 1881) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1839 to 1853, and from 1851 to 1853. He was a grandson of William Floyd.

John G. Floyd
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
Preceded byAbraham P. Grant
Succeeded byCharles S. Benton
Constituency17th district
In office
March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853
Preceded byJohn A. King
Succeeded byJames Maurice
Constituency1st district
Personal details
Born
John Gelston Floyd

(1806-02-05)February 5, 1806
Mastic, New York
DiedOctober 5, 1881(1881-10-05) (aged 75)
Mastic, New York
Political partyDemocratic (1839–56)
Republican (1856–81)
SpouseSarah Backus Kirkland

Life and career

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Floyd was born in Mastic near Moriches, Long Island, New York, the son of Phoebe (Gelston) and Nicoll Floyd.[1] Floyd attended the common schools, and was graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, in 1824. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and commenced practice in Utica, New York.

Early career

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He served as clerk and prosecuting attorney of Utica, New York from 1829 to 1833. He founded the Utica Democrat (later the Observer-Dispatch) in 1836. He was appointed judge of Suffolk County.

Congress

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Floyd was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843). He returned to Mastic, Long Island, about 1842. He was a member of the New York State Senate (1st D.) in 1848 and 1849.

Floyd was elected to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853). He served as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture (Thirty-second Congress).

Later career and death

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He joined the Republican Party upon its formation in 1856. He retired from public life.

He died in Mastic, Long Island, New York on October 5, 1881. He was interred in the family cemetery.

Family

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John G. Floyd is a great-great-grandfather of Republican Governor, and 2020 presidential candidate Bill Weld.[citation needed]

References

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  • United States Congress. "John G. Floyd (id: F000223)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  1. ^ "Lineage Book". 1897.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th congressional district

1839–1843
with David P. Brewster
Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by
new district
New York State Senate
1st District

1848–1849
Succeeded by
William Horace Brown
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 1st congressional district

1851–1853
Succeeded by