Representative Lewis Riggs

Lewis Riggs (January 16, 1789 – November 6, 1870) was an American physician and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1841 to 1843. A member of the Democratic Party, he participated in the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his New York constituents in the Twenty-seventh Congress.

Riggs was born in Norfolk, Connecticut, on January 16, 1789. He attended the local common schools and pursued further studies in Latin and Greek, reflecting the classical education typical of aspiring professionals of his era. In his youth he was apprenticed to the carpenter’s trade, gaining practical training before turning to a career in medicine. He subsequently studied medicine in the village of Torringford, Connecticut, where he completed his medical training and received his diploma in May 1812.

In addition to his formal medical study in Connecticut, Riggs broadened his professional education by attending medical lectures in 1812 delivered by the eminent physician Benjamin Rush at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Following these studies, he began practicing medicine in East Winsted, Connecticut. In 1813 he moved to Vernon, New York, and later settled in Homer, New York, where he continued to practice medicine continuously and became a well-known local physician.

Alongside his medical practice, Riggs engaged in various business and professional activities that enhanced his standing in the community. He operated as a retail druggist and, beginning in 1828, entered the sale of dry goods, reflecting the diversified economic pursuits common among professionals in small-town New York. Within his profession, he was active in organized medicine, serving as secretary of the Cortland County Medical Society from 1820 to 1823 and as its president in 1825 and 1826, roles that underscored his leadership among local physicians.

Riggs also held important federal and local responsibilities prior to his service in Congress. He was appointed postmaster of Homer, New York, by President Andrew Jackson on April 25, 1829, a position he held for a full decade until August 7, 1839. His tenure as postmaster placed him at the center of communications and public affairs in the community and helped establish his reputation as a Democratic Party loyalist and public servant.

Building on his medical, business, and civic experience, Riggs was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-seventh Congress, serving from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1843. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New York, he contributed to the legislative process during one term in office, participating in the democratic process at the national level and representing the interests of his constituents during a period marked by economic and political debates in the early 1840s. His service in Congress formed the apex of a public career grounded in local leadership and professional accomplishment.

After leaving Congress, Riggs resumed the practice of medicine in Homer, returning to the profession that had defined much of his life. He also operated a flour mill, continuing his involvement in local business and contributing to the economic life of his community. He remained in Homer for the rest of his life. Lewis Riggs died there on November 6, 1870, and was interred in Glenwood Cemetery, closing a long career of medical practice, business enterprise, and public service.