Quick Facts
Biography
Albert Haller Tracy (June 17, 1793 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut – September 19, 1859 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.
Life
He was the son of Dr. Philemon Tracy (1757–1837, a physician) and Abigail (Trott) Tracy. He pursued classical studies, and later studied medicine. In 1811, he removed to New York, where he abandoned medicine and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1815, commenced practice in Buffalo, and became a prominent attorney. Tracy married and had two sons: Albert Haller Tracy (b. 1834) and Francis Walsingham Tracy (b. 1839).
Tracy was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 16th, 17th and 18th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1819, to March 3, 1825. He was Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (17th Congress). In February 1825, Tracy was brought forward as a compromise candidate for U.S. Senator from New York, and was nominated by resolution in the State Senate, but the different majority in the State Assembly refused to concur, and nobody was elected.
In March 1826, Tracy was appointed as Judge of the Eighth Circuit Court, but declined to take office. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1830 to 1838, and was aligned politically with the Anti-Masons and later the Whigs. Tracy sat in the 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 59th and 60th New York State Legislatures.
Tracy was involved in business and cultural organizations within Buffalo throughout his life. He was one of the nine original members of the Buffalo Harbor Company, which was organized in 1819. Tracy was a member of the first board of directors of the branch of the United States Bank, which was established in Buffalo in 1826. He was one of the incorporators in 1846 of the University at Buffalo. Tracy was also the president of the Buffalo Water Works Company from 1855-1859.
He died in Buffalo on September 19, 1859, and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Congressman Phineas L. Tracy was his brother.