Theron Rudd Strong

Theron Rudd Strong (November 7, 1802, Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut – May 14, 1873) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Democratic politician from New York who served one term in the United States House of Representatives from 1839 to 1841. He was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, into a New England family that later produced several notable public figures, including his cousin, Congressman William Strong of Pennsylvania.

Strong pursued a formal legal education at the Litchfield Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut, one of the earliest and most influential law schools in the United States. After completing his studies, he was admitted to the bar in 1821. He then moved to western New York and commenced the practice of law in Palmyra, a growing community in what later became Wayne County. His early legal career in Palmyra established his professional reputation and provided the foundation for his subsequent public service.

In his personal life, Strong married Abbie Louise Hart (1814–1840) in 1833. She was the daughter of Truman Hart, a member of the New York State Senate, thereby linking Strong to an established political family in the state. After Abbie’s death in 1840, Strong later married Cornelia Wheeler Barnes. By his second marriage he had a daughter, Cornelia Wheeler Strong, who was a descendant of Capt. Thomas Yale of the Yale family, reflecting further connections to prominent New England lineages.

Strong’s public career began at the local level. He was appointed and served as District Attorney of Wayne County, New York, from 1835 to 1839. In this role he was responsible for prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the county and the state, gaining experience in public law and courtroom practice that enhanced his standing in the region. His work as district attorney, combined with his Democratic Party affiliation, positioned him for election to national office.

Strong was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth United States Congress, representing New York, and served from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1841. During this single term in the U.S. House of Representatives, he participated in the legislative process at a time of significant political and economic debate in the United States, including issues related to banking, internal improvements, and the evolving party system. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New York, he contributed to the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents during a period of transition in national politics. Although he served only one term, his congressional service formed an important part of his broader public career.

After leaving Congress, Strong returned to state-level politics. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from Wayne County in 1842, taking part in legislative deliberations in Albany and helping to shape state policy. His experience in both federal and state legislatures, combined with his legal background, made him a suitable candidate for judicial office as New York’s legal system evolved in the mid-nineteenth century.

Strong’s judicial career began in earnest a decade later. He was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court for the 7th Judicial District and served on that court from 1852 to 1859. In accordance with the constitutional structure of New York’s judiciary at the time, he also served ex officio as a judge of the New York Court of Appeals in 1858, participating in the state’s highest appellate tribunal. During his tenure on the bench, he relocated to Rochester, New York, which was the seat of the district bench, and became closely associated with the city’s legal community. After completing his term on the Supreme Court, he resumed the private practice of law in Rochester, continuing his long engagement with the legal profession.

In 1867, Strong moved to New York City, where he continued to practice law in the nation’s largest commercial center during the post–Civil War era. He remained professionally active there until later in life. Theron Rudd Strong died on May 14, 1873. Although he had relocated to New York City, he was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York, reflecting his long-standing ties to western New York and the community in which he had spent much of his legal and judicial career.