Francis Bloodgood

Francis Bloodgood was born on 12 June 1775 in Albany, the son of James and Lydia Van Valkenburgh Bloodgood. His great-grandfather was Francis Bloetgoet of Flushing, Long Island. His father was a merchant who was involved in the West Indian trade.[1] He studied law at Yale University.[1] His uncle was Elisha Jenkins, who was three times Secretary of State of New York, and was mayor of Albany from 1816 to 1819.

Bloodgood established a law firm in Albany in the State Hall on State Street.[3] He became Director and President of the State Bank and President of the Albany Insurance Company.[1] He was a trustee of the Albany Presbyterian Church. Bloodgood married Elizabeth Cobham in 1792. In 1800 his household had seven family members and four slaves. From 1797 to 1825 he was clerk of the New York Supreme Court.[3]

Bloodgood was involved in a street brawl in April 1807 over a political dispute.[3] After Elisha Jenkins had passed a resolution questioning Solomon Van Rensselaer's honesty, the two men came to blows. Witnesses said that Bloodgood then struck Van Rensselaer on the head with a large cane.[4] He later paid damages to Solomon Van Rensselaer for injuries received in the brawl.[3]

Bloodgood's first wife died on 13 November 1818, aged fifty, and was buried in the Presbyterian burial ground.[2] He may have then married Caroline Whistler. In December 1830 he was elected mayor of Albany.[3] Francis Bloodgood entered office in 1831 and paid all the debts of those in debtors' prison on the occasion of his swearing in.[5] A City Hall was erected on Eagle Street, between Maiden Lane and Pine Street, the location of the current City Hall, made of marble and capped by a gilded dome. John Townsend returned as mayor in 1832.[6] In 1833 Francis Bloodgood became mayor for the second time.[7]

Francis Bloodgood died on 5 March 1840, aged 71. He was also buried in the Presbyterian burial ground.[2] At the time of his death he was married to Anna Shoemaker (born 27 March 1777), from a Philadelphia Quaker family, the widow of Robert Morris Jr.[8] His wife lived on until 5 March 1865, when she died in Philadelphia. His son was Major William Bloodgood, father of Captain Edward Bloodgood, who died at Fort Larned on 31 July 1867.[1]

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