Albert Gallatin Marchand

Albert Gallatin Marchand (February 27, 1811 – February 5, 1848) was an American politician and lawyer who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1839 to 1843, representing the 19th congressional district of Pennsylvania as a Democrat in the 26th and 27th United States Congresses. As a member of the Democratic Party representing Pennsylvania, he contributed to the legislative process during two terms in office, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents during a significant period in American history.

Marchand was born near Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1811. He was the son of David Marchand, a prominent Pennsylvania politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1817 to 1821. His father represented Pennsylvania’s 11th congressional district in the 15th and 16th United States Congresses as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. Growing up in a household closely connected to public affairs and national politics, the younger Marchand was exposed early to the workings of government and the legal profession, influences that shaped his own career path.

Albert Marchand pursued legal studies as a young man, preparing for admission to the bar. After completing his legal education through the customary apprenticeship and reading of law, he was admitted to the bar in 1833. He commenced the practice of law in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he established himself as a practicing attorney. His legal work in Greensburg provided him with a foundation in local and regional affairs and helped build the professional reputation and community ties that would support his later entry into national politics.

Marchand’s congressional career began when he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania’s 19th congressional district. His service in Congress commenced on March 4, 1839, at the opening of the 26th United States Congress. He was reelected and continued to serve in the 27th United States Congress, with his tenure concluding on March 3, 1843. During his second term, he held the important leadership role of chairman of the United States House Committee on Accounts, which oversaw administrative and financial matters of the House. His service in Congress occurred during a period marked by debates over economic policy, party realignments, and the evolving role of the federal government, and he participated in representing the interests of his Pennsylvania constituents within that broader national context.

Although positioned for continued advancement, Marchand declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1842 to the 28th United States Congress. After leaving Congress in 1843, he returned to Greensburg and resumed the practice of law. Back in private life, he continued his legal career in the community where he had first established himself professionally, maintaining his role as a local attorney after his period of national service.

In his personal life, Marchand married Susan S. Kuhns in 1839, the same year he entered Congress. The couple had four children together. His family life in Greensburg paralleled his professional and political activities, and his marriage linked him to another established local family in western Pennsylvania.

Albert Gallatin Marchand died at the age of 36 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on February 5, 1848. He was interred in Greensburg Cemetery, which is now known as St. Clair Cemetery. His relatively brief life encompassed both a legal career and notable service in the United States House of Representatives, continuing the tradition of public service established by his father, David Marchand, who had also represented Pennsylvania in Congress.