John Taylor Bird (August 16, 1829, Bloomsbury, New Jersey – May 6, 1911, Trenton, New Jersey) was an American politician and businessman who represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district for two terms from 1869 to 1873.

John Taylor Bird
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873
Preceded byCharles Sitgreaves
Succeeded byAmos Clark, Jr.
Personal details
Born(1829-08-16)August 16, 1829
Bloomsbury, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedMay 6, 1911(1911-05-06) (aged 81)
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionPolitician

Early life and education

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Bird was born in Bloomsbury in Bethlehem Township, New Jersey on August 16, 1829.[1] He attended the public schools, and a classical academy at Hackettstown, New Jersey.

Career

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He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1855 and commenced practice in Bloomsbury, New Jersey. He moved to Clinton, New Jersey in 1858. He was prosecutor of the pleas for Hunterdon County from 1862 to 1867. He moved to Flemington, New Jersey in 1865.

Bird was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses, serving in office from March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1872.

After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law in Flemington. He was a member of the New Jersey constitutional convention in 1876. He moved to Trenton, New Jersey, in 1882. Bird was vice chancellor of New Jersey from 1882 to 1896 and master in chancery from 1900 to 1909.

Death

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He died in Trenton on May 6, 1911, and was interred there in Riverview Cemetery.

References

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  1. ^ Gnichtel, Frederick W. A History of Trenton: 1679-1929 Chapter XII - The Courts, Judges and Lawyers; Medicine and Doctors", Trenton Historical Society. Accessed November 13, 2013. "John T. Bird was born in Bethlehem, Hunterdon County, and studied law in the office of A. G. Richey in Trenton, but practised in Flemington where he became one of the leaders of the Bar."
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  • United States Congress. "John T. Bird (id: B000478)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • John Taylor Bird at The Political Graveyard
  • John T. Bird at Find a Grave
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John T. Bird
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 3rd congressional district

March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873
Succeeded by