Person Information

Biography

Born in Tioga Point, PA, he moved with his parents to Canandaigua, NY in 1795. After attending common-school education, he then moved again with his parents to Ashtabula Co., OH in 1806. He served in the War of 1812, then studied law and was admitted tot he bar in Feb. 1821. He began his first practice in Jefferson, OH. He was a member of the OH State house of representatives in 1826, but was then elected as a Whig to the 26th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Elisha Whittlesey. He was reelected to the 26th and 27th Congresses, serving from 1838-1842. He resigned after a vote of censure had been passed upon him by the House in response to his motion in defense of the slave mutineers in the Creole case. He was, however, reelected to the 26th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by his own resignation. He was reelected as a Whig to the 28th-30th Congresses, as a Free-Soil candidate to the 31st-33rd Congresses, elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the 34th Congress, and reelected as a Republican to the 35th Congress (overall serving from 1842-1859). He declined to be a candidate for reelection for the 36th congress. He was appointed consul general to the British North American Provinces by President Lincoln in 1861, and served until his death. He was married to Laura Waters Giddings.

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Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
Born in Tioga Point, PA, he moved with his parents to Canandaigua, NY in 1795. After attending common-school education, he then moved again with his parents to Ashtabula Co., OH in 1806. He served in the War of 1812, then studied law and was admitted tot he bar in Feb. 1821. He began his first practice in Jefferson, OH. He was a member of the OH State house of representatives in 1826, but was then elected as a Whig to the 26th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Elisha Whittlesey. He was reelected to the 26th and 27th Congresses, serving from 1838-1842. He resigned after a vote of censure had been passed upon him by the House in response to his motion in defense of the slave mutineers in the Creole case. He was, however, reelected to the 26th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by his own resignation. He was reelected as a Whig to the 28th-30th Congresses, as a Free-Soil candidate to the 31st-33rd Congresses, elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the 34th Congress, and reelected as a Republican to the 35th Congress (overall serving from 1842-1859). He declined to be a candidate for reelection for the 36th congress. He was appointed consul general to the British North American Provinces by President Lincoln in 1861, and served until his death. He was married to Laura Waters Giddings.
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000167
Title of Webpage: 
Giddings, Joshua Reed
Website Viewing Date: 
Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 10:15
Website's Last Modified Date: 
Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 10:15
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000167
Title of Webpage: 
Giddings, Joshua Reed
Website Viewing Date: 
Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 10:15
Website Last Modified Date: 
Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 10:15
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000167
Title of Webpage: 
Giddings, Joshua Reed
Website Viewing Date: 
Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 10:15
Website Last Modified Date: 
Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 10:15