James Farrington

James Farrington (October 1, 1791 – October 29, 1859) was an American physician, banker, and Democratic politician from New Hampshire who served in the United States House of Representatives, the New Hampshire Senate, and the New Hampshire House of Representatives in the early nineteenth century. His public career spanned medicine, finance, and state and national politics during a formative period in American history.

Farrington was born in Conway, Carroll County, New Hampshire, on October 1, 1791, the son of Jeremiah Farrington and Molly (Swan) Farrington. He attended the common schools in Conway, receiving the basic education typical of rural New England in the early republic. Demonstrating academic promise, he continued his studies at Fryeburg Academy in Fryeburg, Maine, from which he graduated in 1814. This education prepared him for a professional career at a time when formal higher education for physicians was still developing in the United States.

After completing his studies at Fryeburg Academy, Farrington pursued the study of medicine, following the customary apprenticeship model of the era. By 1818 he had established himself as a practicing physician in Rochester, Strafford County, New Hampshire. He built a medical practice that served the surrounding community and became a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, reflecting his standing within the profession. His medical work formed the foundation of his early career and continued, in various forms, throughout his life.

Farrington entered public life while maintaining his medical practice. He was first elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, serving as a member from 1828 to 1831. In this role he participated in state legislative deliberations during a period of expanding democracy and economic change in New England. His service in the lower house of the state legislature marked the beginning of a broader political career that would later include positions in both the state senate and the United States Congress.

In addition to his medical and legislative work, Farrington became a significant figure in local banking and finance. In 1834 he joined with Nehemiah Eastman to organize the Rochester Bank, an institution created to serve the growing commercial and agricultural needs of the region. Farrington served as president of the Rochester Bank from its founding in 1834 until his death in 1859, overseeing its operations for a quarter century. His leadership in banking complemented his professional and political activities and positioned him as a prominent citizen in Rochester.

Farrington advanced to higher state office when he was elected to the New Hampshire Senate, serving as a state senator in 1836. The following year he moved onto the national stage. Elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth Congress, he represented New Hampshire in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839. His single term in Congress coincided with a significant period in American history, including the economic dislocation following the Panic of 1837 and ongoing debates over federal economic policy and states’ rights. As a Democratic Party member, he participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of his New Hampshire constituents during this turbulent time.

After completing his term in Congress, Farrington returned to New Hampshire and continued his engagement in public service and professional life. In 1845 he was appointed one of the trustees of the New Hampshire Insane Asylum, an institution reflecting the mid-nineteenth-century movement toward more organized and humane care for the mentally ill. Following this appointment, he resumed the active practice of medicine, balancing his responsibilities as a physician with his ongoing role as president of the Rochester Bank and his duties as a public trustee.

In his personal life, Farrington married Mary D. Hansen, the daughter of Joseph and Charity Dame Hansen, on March 8, 1827. The couple had four children: James Bonaparte, Mary, Joseph, and Walter. Their family life was centered in Rochester, where Farrington’s professional, political, and civic activities were based for most of his adult years.

James Farrington died in Rochester, Strafford County, New Hampshire, on October 29, 1859. He was interred in the Old Cemetery in Rochester. At the time of his death, he was still serving as president of the Rochester Bank, closing a career that had combined medicine, banking, and public office at both the state and national levels.