Isaac R. Harrington (December 7, 1789 - August 20, 1851) was a prominent businessman and entrepreneur in
Burlington, Vermont and
Buffalo, New York. He became active in politics as a
Whig and served as
mayor of Buffalo from 1841 to 1842.
Early life
Isaac Russell (or Russel) Harrington was born in
New Haven, Connecticut on December 7, 1789.[2][a] Harrington's mother was Hannah (Upson) Harrington (1763-1840).[3][4] His father was Benjamin Harrington (1762-1810), a prominent citizen of
Shelburne, Vermont, who served several terms in the
Vermont House of Representatives.[5] Benjamin Harrington was a native of
Connecticut and commanded ships on ocean voyages before moving to Shelburne, which resulted in Shelburne residents frequently referring to him as "Captain Harrington".[5]
In 1793, Benjamin Harrington moved his family to Shelburne, where Isaac Harrington was raised and educated.[5] He graduated from the
University of Vermont in 1809.[6] During the
War of 1812, Harrington served as a private in the 1st Regiment (Judson's) of the Vermont Militia.[7]
Harrington became active in several business ventures in Burlington, including a store where he sold dry goods, groceries, hardware and housewares.[8][9] He also bought and sold other items when he had the opportunity, including horses, farms, and barrels of beer.[10][11][12] In 1816, Harrington became the proprietor of a Burlington inn and hotel, which he purchased from Joseph King.[13]
Another early Isaac Harrington business venture was operating the Phoenix, a
Lake Champlain steamship which made regular trips to and from
Whitehall, New York and
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu,
Quebec.[14] Harrington was the ship's
sailing master, and as a result was frequently addressed as "Captain Harrington", as his father had been.[14][15] He left Vermont in about 1830 and moved to
Buffalo, New York; an 1832 letter by a Vermonter traveling to
Cleveland, Ohio was published in a Burlington newspaper, which indicated that the author had stayed at the Eagle Tavern in Buffalo, of which Harrington was the proprietor.[16]
Career in Buffalo
In addition to Harrington's business career in Buffalo, he became active in the city's local government.[17] In the mid-1830s, he was appointed to several commissions that assessed property owners in order to finance improvements to several Buffalo streets.[17][18] The owners were required to pay based on the value the improvements would add to their homes and businesses.[17][18] In Buffalo, Harrington was popularly known as "Cuff" or "Old Cuff", but the origin of the nickname is not known.[19][20]
Harrington was also involved in Buffalo-area politics as a member of the
Whig Party.[21] In 1836 he was a delegate to the party's 8th
New York State Senate District Convention.[21] In 1840, Harrington was a candidate for alderman from Buffalo's fifth ward.[22] He was elected, and took his seat in March.[23] Though he was a Whig, in 1841 Harrington entered the race for mayor against the party's preferred candidate, Ira A. Blossom.[24] Harrington was supported by most of Buffalo's Democrats and defeated Blossom.[24][25] In March, 1841 he succeeded
Sheldon Thompson as mayor.[24][25][26] He served until March 1842, when he was defeated for reelection by
George W. Clinton.[25][27] Among the initiatives Harrington undertook as mayor was an effort to persuade New York's state government to fund improvements to the
Erie Canal, which were intended to ensure that Buffalo-area shipping could continue during periods when the water level of
Lake Erie receded.[28]
After leaving the mayor's office, Harrington continued his involvement in Whig politics.[29] He supported
Henry Clay for president
in 1844, and attended Whig party meetings to organize the Clay campaign in New York.[29] Harrington supported the presidential campaign of
Zachary Taylor in the
election of 1848.[30] Taylor won and Harrington was one of the honorary managers of a February 1849 Whig inaugural ball held in Buffalo.[30]
Harrington's support for the Whig Party was recognized in May 1849, when he was appointed as
postmaster of Buffalo, succeeding
Henry K. Smith.[31][32] He continued to serve in this position until his death, and was succeeded by
James O. Putnam.[32][33] Harrington became ill in the summer of 1851 and died at his home in Buffalo on August 20.[33] He was buried at
Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.[34]
Election for Alderman from Buffalo's Fifth Ward, 1840[36]
Isaac R. Harrington, 221 (31.5%)
Peter Curtiss, 205 (29.2%)
A. Q. Stebbins, 170 (24.2%)
Henry Roop, 105 (15.0%)
Family
In 1810, Harrington married Amanda Lyman (1790-1874) in Burlington.[37] They were the parents of six children -- Edmund, Laura, Juliet, Charles, Donald, and Marion.[38][39][40]
Notes
^Harrington was most likely born in New Haven, Connecticut. His Vermont birth record indicates he was born in Shelburne, Vermont. Records created during his lifetime, including census entries, indicate he was born in New York. His gravestone was created when his wife was still living, and it indicates New Haven as his birthplace. Since Harrington was born in 1789 and his family moved to Vermont in 1793, it is likely that he was not born in Shelburne. Since town histories for Shelburne indicate his father moved there from Connecticut, a New York birthplace is also not likely. Harrington's wife presumably knew where her husband was born, and would not have made a mistake on the gravestone.