Representative Abel Huntington

Abel P. Huntington Jr. (February 21, 1777 – May 18, 1858) was an American physician and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1833 to 1837. Born in Norwich, Connecticut, he received a liberal schooling in his youth, an education that prepared him for both a professional career and later public service. In the early years of the nineteenth century he moved to East Hampton, on Long Island, New York, where he established himself as a practicing physician and became a prominent figure in the local community.

Huntington’s early public career developed alongside his medical practice. Identified with the emerging Democratic movement that coalesced around Andrew Jackson, he became active in state and national politics. In 1820 he served as a presidential elector, casting his votes for President James Monroe and Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins, thereby participating directly in the presidential election process during the so‑called “Era of Good Feelings.” His growing stature in New York politics led to his election as a member of the New York State Senate from the Southern District in 1822, giving him legislative experience at the state level.

Huntington continued to build his local political base in East Hampton. He served as Supervisor of East Hampton from 1829 to 1832, overseeing town affairs during a period of expanding democratic participation and local governance reform, and he returned to that office again in 1844. His work as supervisor reflected his broader interest in civic improvement and local administration, and it helped solidify his reputation as a trusted representative of his community.

In national politics, Huntington was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1833, to March 3, 1837. As a member of the Jackson Party representing New York, he contributed to the legislative process during two terms in office at a time marked by intense debates over banking policy, internal improvements, and the scope of federal power. During the Twenty-fourth Congress he served as chairman of the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business, a position that placed him at the center of efforts to manage and complete pending legislative matters. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, and he participated in the democratic process by representing the interests of his New York constituents in the House of Representatives.

After leaving Congress, Huntington remained active in public life and Democratic politics. He was appointed collector of customs at Sag Harbor, New York, serving from 1845 to 1849, an office that involved the administration of federal tariff and trade laws at one of Long Island’s important maritime ports. He also served again as Supervisor of East Hampton in 1844, underscoring his continued engagement in local government. In 1846 he was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention, where he joined other delegates in considering revisions to the state’s fundamental law during a period of constitutional reform and democratization in New York.

In addition to his political and administrative roles, Huntington is also associated with efforts to promote liberal values in elementary education and with providing financial support for the establishment of schools. He was reported to have funded the creation of several educational institutions, including one referred to as Summerhill, reflecting his interest in expanding educational opportunities and improving instruction for children. These activities complemented his long-standing professional identity as a physician and his civic-minded approach to public service.

Huntington spent his later years in East Hampton, where he had long been a physician, local official, and community leader. He died there on May 18, 1858. He was interred in South End Cemetery in East Hampton, New York, closing a life that combined medical practice, local and state leadership, and two terms of service in the United States House of Representatives.