Calvin Willey

Calvin Willey (September 15, 1776 – August 23, 1858) was an American politician from Connecticut who served in the United States Senate from 1825 to 1831.

Calvin Willey
Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee
In office 1826–1827
Preceded by	William Findlay
Succeeded by	John Branch
United States Senator from Connecticut
In office May 4, 1825 – March 3, 1831
Preceded by	James Lanman
Succeeded by	Gideon Tomlinson
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office 1820-1821 1812 1810 1805–1806
Member of the Connecticut Senate
In office 1823–1824
Personal details
Born	(1776-09-15)September 15, 1776 East Haddam, Connecticut, US
Died	August 23, 1858(1858-08-23) (aged 81) Stafford, Connecticut, US
Political party	National Republican (1825-1831) Democratic (1832)

Early life and education

Willey was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, and attended common schools.^[1] He began to study law in Hebron, Connecticut, in 1795 and was admitted to the bar in February 1798.^[2]

Career

Willey established a legal practice in Chatham and moved to Stafford in 1800. He was appointed the first postmaster at Stafford Springs, a position he held from 1806 to 1808. He lived in Stafford until 1808, when he moved to Tolland.^[3] Later, he was also a postmaster of Tolland from 1812 to 1816.^[4]

Willey was elected member of the Connecticut House of Representatives for Stafford twice and served from 1805 to 1806. He was also a member of the State house of representatives 1810, 1812, 1820–1821, this time representing Tolland. He was judge of probate for Stafford district 1818–1825. In 1823–1824, he was a member of the Connecticut State Senate. He was elector in the 1824 United States presidential election. He was elected to the United States Senate for the term which started on March 4, 1825, but did not assume office until May 4, 1825. He served for the rest of the term to March 3, 1831. He was also the chairman for the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in the Nineteenth Congress.^[5]

After leaving Congress, he held no more public offices, but continued to practice law.^[6] He ran for governor of Connecticut as a Democrat in 1832, but was unsuccessful.

Personal life

He died in Stafford, Connecticut, August 23, 1858, and was interred in Skungamaug Cemetery in Tolland.^[7][8]

References

1. Calvin Willey at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
2. Memorials of Connecticut Judges and Attorneys, Calvin Willey Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, as Printed in the Connecticut Reports, Volume 14, Appendix, pages 22-23.
3. Memorials of Connecticut Judges and Attorneys, Calvin Willey Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, as above.
4. Calvin Willey as above.
5. Calvin Willey as above.
6. Memorials of Connecticut Judges and Attorneys, Calvin Willey Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, as above.
7. Calvin Willey as above.
8. The Political Graveyard, Index to Politicians: Willauer to William, Willey.

Party political offices
First	Democratic nominee for Governor of Connecticut 1832	Succeeded by Henry W. Edwards
U.S. Senate
Preceded by James Lanman	U.S. senator (Class 3) from Connecticut 1825–1831 Served alongside: Henry Waggaman Edwards, Samuel A. Foot	Succeeded by Gideon Tomlinson