Representative George Woodward Greene

George Woodward Greene (July 4, 1831 – July 21, 1895) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician who served part of one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1869 to 1870. A member of the Democratic Party, he participated in the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his constituents in the aftermath of the Civil War and during Reconstruction.

Greene was born on July 4, 1831. Details of his early life and family background are sparse in the historical record, but his subsequent professional path indicates that he received a level of education sufficient to prepare him for the study and practice of law. Coming of age in the mid-nineteenth century, he entered adulthood at a time when New York was rapidly developing economically and politically, providing opportunities for advancement in the legal and public spheres.

Trained as a lawyer, Greene established himself in the legal profession before entering public life. His work as an attorney laid the foundation for his later service as a jurist, and he became known within his community for his engagement with legal and civic matters. Over time, his professional reputation and involvement in public affairs led to broader responsibilities in the judiciary and, eventually, in national politics.

As a jurist, Greene held judicial responsibilities that reflected both his legal expertise and the trust placed in him by his peers and the public. In this capacity, he contributed to the administration of justice in New York, applying state and federal law during a period marked by legal and social change following the Civil War. His judicial service complemented his legal practice and helped establish him as a figure of authority in legal circles.

Greene’s congressional service began when he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York. He served part of one term in the Forty-first Congress from 1869 to 1870. During this time, Congress was deeply engaged with issues related to Reconstruction, the reintegration of the Southern states, civil rights, and the economic realignment of the postwar nation. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New York, Greene contributed to the legislative process, participating in debates and votes that shaped national policy and working to represent the concerns and interests of his constituents in the House of Representatives.

After his period in Congress, Greene returned to his legal and judicial pursuits in New York. His later years were spent continuing the professional activities that had defined much of his adult life, maintaining his standing as a lawyer and jurist and remaining engaged in the civic affairs of his community. He lived through a transformative era in American history, witnessing the nation’s transition from the Civil War period into the Gilded Age.

George Woodward Greene died on July 21, 1895. His career as a lawyer, jurist, and Democratic member of Congress reflected a lifetime of involvement in the legal and political institutions of New York and the United States during a critical period of national reconstruction and change.