Representative James Lawrence Hogeboom

James Lawrence Hogeboom (August 25, 1766 – December 23, 1839) was an American merchant, lawyer, and politician from New York. Born on August 25, 1766, he came of age in the early years of the United States, a period marked by the aftermath of the American Revolution and the formation of new political and legal institutions. His early life unfolded in New York, where he was exposed to the commercial and civic development of the state, experiences that would later shape his professional pursuits in both business and law.

Hogeboom received a practical education suited to the late eighteenth century, combining formal study with apprenticeship-style training. He studied law in New York, preparing for admission to the bar at a time when the legal profession was central to the organization of the new republic’s courts and governmental structure. Alongside his legal training, he engaged in mercantile activities, gaining experience in trade and commerce that reflected the growing economic importance of New York within the young nation.

Before entering national politics, Hogeboom established himself as both a merchant and a practicing lawyer. His legal practice and business interests placed him in close contact with the concerns of local citizens, including property disputes, commercial transactions, and emerging questions of state and federal authority. This combination of legal and commercial experience helped build his reputation in his community and provided a foundation for his later public service.

Hogeboom’s political career included service as a member of the United States Congress representing New York. As a member of the Unknown Party representing New York, James Lawrence Hogeboom contributed to the legislative process during one term in office. His tenure in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, when the nation was still defining the balance of power between the federal government and the states, expanding westward, and consolidating its political institutions. In this context, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents, bringing to national deliberations the perspective of a New York lawyer and merchant familiar with both local and regional issues.

During his single term in Congress, Hogeboom took part in the routine but essential work of legislation, including consideration of matters affecting commerce, infrastructure, and the legal framework of the expanding republic. Although the specific details of his committee assignments and individual votes are not extensively documented, his service placed him among the generation of early nineteenth-century lawmakers who helped stabilize and refine the operations of the federal government after its formative years.

After completing his term in Congress, Hogeboom returned to private life in New York, resuming his legal and mercantile pursuits. His post-congressional years were spent in the same state whose interests he had represented at the national level, and he continued to be identified as a figure of local standing, combining professional work with civic involvement typical of early American public men who moved between law, business, and politics.

James Lawrence Hogeboom died on December 23, 1839. His life spanned from the colonial era through the early decades of the United States, and his career as a merchant, lawyer, and member of Congress reflected the intertwined development of commerce, law, and representative government in New York and the nation during that formative period.