Moss Kent

Moss Kent (April 3, 1766 – May 30, 1838) was a United States representative from New York and a prominent lawyer and legislator in the early Republic. He was born in Kent’s Parish, part of what is now Croton-on-Hudson, New York, into a family closely connected with the legal profession. His father, Moss Kent Sr., was a New York lawyer and judge, and his brother, James Kent, became one of the most influential jurists and legal scholars of his generation, later serving as Chancellor of New York and authoring the widely cited “Commentaries on American Law.” Raised in this environment, Moss Kent completed preparatory studies in New York and pursued legal training at a time when formal law schools were rare, reading law under established practitioners.

After completing his legal studies, Kent was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in New York. He established himself professionally in Kent’s Parish before moving to Cooperstown, New York, a developing community in Otsego County closely associated with land developer William Cooper. In Cooperstown, Kent expanded his legal practice and entered public life, benefiting from his family’s standing and his own growing reputation as a lawyer. His association with William Cooper extended beyond business; Kent became a trusted friend and associate of the Cooper family, which further integrated him into the civic and social life of the region.

Kent’s political career began at the state level. He was elected to the New York State Senate, serving from 1799 to 1803 during a period of intense partisan competition between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. While serving in the Senate, he also sought federal office, running in New York’s 10th congressional district in 1798. Although he was unsuccessful, he lost by less than ten percentage points, demonstrating significant support in a competitive district. After his Senate service, Kent continued in state politics and was elected to the New York State Assembly, serving terms in 1807 and 1810. During this period he again ran for Congress in the 10th district in 1808, once more losing by a margin of less than ten points, which underscored both his persistence and his continuing prominence in Federalist politics.

Around this time, Kent relocated from Cooperstown to Champion, in Jefferson County, New York, as settlement expanded into the northern part of the state. His legal and political experience led to his appointment as judge of Jefferson County on February 26, 1810, placing him in a key judicial role in a frontier region. As a county judge, he presided over local legal matters at a time when New York’s northern counties were rapidly growing and institutions were still being formed. His judicial service further solidified his standing as a respected legal figure and prepared him for higher office.

In 1812, amid the tensions leading into the War of 1812, Kent was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Federalist. He was chosen to represent the newly created 18th congressional district of New York and took his seat in the 13th Congress on March 4, 1813. He was reelected in 1814 and served in the 14th Congress, continuing in office until March 3, 1817. During his tenure in Congress, Kent served through the wartime and immediate postwar years, a period marked by debates over military policy, finance, and the direction of the young nation. As a Federalist, he was aligned with a party that generally favored a strong national government and commercial interests, although specific details of his committee assignments and floor activity are less fully documented than those of some contemporaries. His service nonetheless placed him among the principal federal lawmakers from New York during a formative era in national politics.

After leaving Congress in 1817, Kent resumed the practice of law. He later moved to Plattsburgh, New York, a strategic community on Lake Champlain that had gained prominence during the War of 1812. In Plattsburgh, he continued his legal work and remained a figure of local importance, drawing on decades of experience in law, legislation, and judicial service. His later years were spent in professional pursuits rather than elective office, reflecting a return to the legal career that had underpinned his public life.

Kent’s personal life was closely intertwined with the Cooper family of Cooperstown. He pursued Hannah Cooper, the daughter of his friend and business associate William Cooper. Their relationship did not culminate in marriage; Hannah Cooper died tragically at the age of 23. Deeply affected by her death, Kent never married, and he left no direct descendants. His closest familial connections remained with his distinguished brother James Kent and the broader Kent family, whose collective contributions to American law and public life were substantial.

Moss Kent died in Plattsburgh on May 30, 1838. He was interred in Riverside Cemetery in Plattsburgh, New York. His career, spanning service in the New York State Senate, the New York State Assembly, the Jefferson County judiciary, and the United States House of Representatives, reflected the trajectory of an early American lawyer-statesman whose work bridged local, state, and national institutions during the nation’s formative decades.