Bridges, Samuel Augustus

BRIDGES, Samuel Augustus, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Colchester, Conn., January 27, 1802; pursued an academic course, and was graduated from Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., in 1826; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1829 and commenced practice in Doylestown, Pa.; moved to Allentown, Lehigh County, Pa., in 1830, where he continued the practice of law; town clerk 1837-1842; deputy attorney general of the State for Lehigh County 1837-1844; delegate to the Democratic State convention in 1841; elected as a Democrat to the Thirtieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John W. Hornbeck and served from March 6, 1848, to March 3, 1849; was not a candidate for renomination in 1848; elected to the Thirty-third Congress (March 4, 1853-March 3, 1855); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1854 to the Thirty-fourth Congress; resumed the practice of law; elected to the Forty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1877-March 3, 1879); was not a candidate for renomination in 1878; continued the practice of law in Allentown, Pa., where he died January 14, 1884; interment in Union Cemetery.