Representative Origen Storrs Seymour

Origen Storrs Seymour (February 9, 1804 – August 12, 1881) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Democratic politician who served as Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1850, as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut’s 4th congressional district, and as chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1873 to 1874. He was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, the son of Ozias Seymour (1776–1851) and Selima Storrs Seymour. Raised in Litchfield, he attended the local public schools before pursuing higher education. He was part of a prominent Connecticut family; he was the nephew of Horatio Seymour and later the father of Edward Woodruff Seymour, who would also become a U.S. Representative from Connecticut.

Seymour graduated from Yale College in 1824, where he studied law. Following his graduation, he continued his legal preparation and was admitted to the bar in 1826. He then commenced the practice of law in his native Litchfield, Connecticut, establishing himself in a community that had long been an important center of legal education and practice in the state. His early legal career provided the foundation for his later prominence in both state politics and the judiciary.

Seymour entered public service in local and state offices while maintaining his law practice. He served as county clerk from 1836 to 1844, gaining administrative and legal experience that enhanced his standing in Connecticut’s legal community. He was elected a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1842 and returned to that body in 1849 and 1850. During the 1850 session, he was chosen Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives, reflecting his influence within the Democratic Party and his growing reputation as a capable legislative leader.

As a member of the Democratic Party representing Connecticut, Seymour advanced to national office when he was elected to the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses, serving as U.S. Representative from Connecticut’s 4th congressional district from March 4, 1851, to March 3, 1855. His two terms in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, as sectional tensions over slavery and national expansion intensified in the years leading up to the Civil War. In the House of Representatives he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents, contributing to the legislative debates and policymaking of the era. After leaving Congress in 1855, he returned to Connecticut and resumed his legal and judicial career.

Seymour’s judicial service began soon after his congressional tenure. He was appointed judge of the Connecticut Superior Court in 1855 and served in that capacity until 1863. During these years he presided over a wide range of civil and criminal matters, helping to shape Connecticut jurisprudence in a period of rapid social and economic change. He also remained active in politics, and in 1864 and 1865 he was the Democratic candidate for governor of Connecticut. On both occasions he was unsuccessful, but his nominations underscored his status as a leading figure in the state Democratic Party.

In 1870 Seymour was elevated to the Connecticut Supreme Court, marking the culmination of his long judicial career. He became chief justice in 1873 and served in that role until 1874, when he retired upon reaching the mandatory age limitation. As chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1873 to 1874, he occupied the highest judicial office in the state, overseeing important appellate decisions and the administration of the court system. His leadership on the bench further solidified his reputation as a distinguished jurist.

After leaving the Supreme Court, Seymour continued to play an important role in public affairs. In 1876 he served as chairman of the commission appointed to settle the boundary dispute between Connecticut and New York, a long-standing issue involving jurisdictional and property questions along the states’ shared border. His legal expertise and experience in both legislative and judicial roles made him a natural choice for this responsibility. He also remained engaged in state politics and public service, returning once more to the Connecticut House of Representatives as a member in 1880.

Seymour was a leading figure in the legal profession beyond his judicial duties. He was the first president of the Connecticut Bar Association, reflecting the esteem in which he was held by his peers and his commitment to the organization and improvement of the bar in the state. His family’s public service continued into the next generation through his son, Edward Woodruff Seymour, who served in Congress, extending the Seymour family’s influence in Connecticut and national affairs.

Origen Storrs Seymour spent his entire life closely tied to his native Litchfield. He died there on August 12, 1881, after a long career in law, politics, and public service. He was interred in East Cemetery in Litchfield, Connecticut, leaving a legacy as a prominent Democratic leader, legislator, and jurist who held some of the highest offices in the state’s government and legal system.