Alexander Hamilton Buell

Alexander Hamilton Buell (July 14, 1801 – January 29, 1853) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served one term as a U.S. representative from New York from 1851 to 1853. He was born on July 14, 1801, in Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York, a rural community in central New York State that was then developing rapidly in the early decades of the nineteenth century.

Buell received his early education in the local district schools of Fairfield, reflecting the common school system that was emerging in New York during his youth. He continued his studies at Fairfield Academy, an important regional educational institution that attracted students from the surrounding area. This combination of local schooling and academy training provided him with the foundation for a career in business and public life.

After completing his education, Buell engaged in mercantile pursuits in Fairfield. He became a businessman of some standing, operating a general store in his hometown and maintaining general stores in other cities as well. Through these enterprises he participated in the commercial growth of upstate New York, dealing in goods and supplies that served the needs of a largely agricultural region. His success in business helped establish his reputation in the community and laid the groundwork for his entry into politics.

Buell’s political career began at the state level. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to the New York State Assembly and served in 1845. In the Assembly he took part in state legislative affairs during a period marked by debates over internal improvements, banking, and the evolving party system in New York. His service in Albany increased his visibility within the Democratic Party and among his constituents in Herkimer County and the surrounding area.

Building on his state legislative experience, Buell was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second Congress, representing New York in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served from March 4, 1851, until his death in office on January 29, 1853. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New York, he contributed to the legislative process during his single term in Congress. His service occurred during a significant period in American history, in the years following the Compromise of 1850, when issues of sectional balance, slavery in the territories, and economic development were prominent in national debates. In this context, Buell participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in the House of Representatives.

Buell died while still in office in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 1853. His death placed him among the members of the United States Congress who died in office during the nineteenth century. Following his death, he was interred in the Episcopal Cemetery in Fairfield, New York, returning to the community where he had been born, educated, and established as a merchant and public servant.