Leonard Wilcox

Leonard Wilcox (January 29, 1799 – June 18, 1850) was an American lawyer, judge, and Democratic politician who served as a United States senator from New Hampshire, as a judge of the New Hampshire Superior Court, and as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives during the 1800s. Born in Hanover, New Hampshire, he was the son of Jeduthun Wilcox and Sarah (Fisk) Wilcox. His father, Jeduthun Wilcox, served as a United States representative from New Hampshire in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses, providing a family background closely connected to public service and national politics.

Wilcox pursued a classical education and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1817. While at Dartmouth he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society, reflecting distinguished academic performance. After completing his collegiate studies, he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1820. He then commenced the practice of law in Orford, in Grafton County, New Hampshire, where he established himself as a practicing attorney and began to build the legal and community reputation that would support his later political and judicial career.

Wilcox entered public life as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, in which he served from 1828 to 1834. During these years he participated in state legislative affairs at a time of growing political organization and party development in New Hampshire. His work in the state legislature helped to solidify his position within the Democratic Party and introduced him to the broader workings of government. In addition to his legislative service, he continued his legal practice, becoming a recognized figure in the legal community of Grafton County.

By the late 1830s, Wilcox had moved into judicial and regulatory roles within the state. He served as a judge of the New Hampshire Superior Court from 1838 to 1840, presiding over significant civil and criminal matters and contributing to the development of the state’s jurisprudence. Concurrently, he was appointed bank commissioner for New Hampshire, serving from 1838 to 1842. In that capacity he oversaw aspects of the state’s banking system during a period marked by financial instability and evolving regulation in the aftermath of the banking controversies of the Jacksonian era.

Wilcox’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor John Page to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Franklin Pierce. Initially appointed as a Democrat, he was subsequently elected by the state legislature and served as a senator from New Hampshire from March 1, 1842, to March 3, 1843, completing one term in office. During this time he participated in the legislative process in the Senate, represented the interests of his New Hampshire constituents, and took part in the democratic process at the national level amid debates over economic policy, territorial expansion, and party realignments in the early 1840s.

After leaving the Senate in 1843, Wilcox resumed the practice of law in Orford, returning to private legal work while maintaining his standing as a respected public figure. His judicial career continued when he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in which he served from 1847 to 1848. In 1848 he was again appointed to the New Hampshire Superior Court, resuming service as a superior court judge and holding that position until his death. Through these successive judicial appointments he remained an influential figure in the state’s legal system, shaping the administration of justice in New Hampshire in the mid-nineteenth century.

In his personal life, Wilcox married twice. On September 12, 1819, he married Almira Morey, the daughter of inventor Samuel Morey, thereby linking himself to a family noted for its contributions to early American technological innovation. Following Almira’s death, he married Mary Mann on October 10, 1833. He had children from both marriages, and his family connections, together with his professional and political roles, placed him within a network of prominent New England families of the period.

Leonard Wilcox died in Orford, Grafton County, New Hampshire, on June 18, 1850, at the age of 51 years and 140 days, while still serving on the New Hampshire Superior Court. He was interred at the West Congregational Churchyard in Orford, New Hampshire. His career as legislator, senator, and judge reflected a lifetime of service at both the state and national levels during a formative era in New Hampshire and United States political history.