Daniel Azro Ashley Buck (April 19, 1789 – December 24, 1841) was an American lawyer and politician in the U.S. state of Vermont. He served as a U.S. Representative from Vermont and as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.

Daniel Azro Ashley Buck
Likeness by unknown artist, circa 1822
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1829–1830
Preceded byRobert B. Bates
Succeeded byRobert B. Bates
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829
Preceded byJohn Mattocks
Succeeded byWilliam Cahoon
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1825–1826
Preceded byIsaac Fletcher
Succeeded byRobert B. Bates
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825
Preceded byElias Keyes
Succeeded byEzra Meech
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1820–1822
Preceded byWilliam A. Griswold
Succeeded byGeorge Edward Wales
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1816–1826
1828–1830
1833–1835
Personal details
Born(1789-04-19)April 19, 1789
Norwich, Vermont Republic
DiedDecember 24, 1841(1841-12-24) (aged 52)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeCongressional Cemetery
Washington, D.C.
Political partyAdams-Clay Republican
SpousePhilomela C. Dodge Buck
ChildrenDaniel Buck
Elizabeth Morse Buck
Ben Buck
Londus Buck
Parent(s)Daniel Buck
Content (Ashley) Buck
Alma materUnited States Military Academy
Middlebury College
Dartmouth College
ProfessionPolitician
Lawyer
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1808–1811
1812–1815
RankCaptain
Unit31st Infantry Regiment
WarsWar of 1812

Early life

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Buck was born in Norwich in the Vermont Republic, the son of U.S. Representative Daniel Buck and Content (Ashley) Buck.[1] As a child he moved with his parents to Chelsea. He attended the common schools and graduated from Middlebury College in 1807 with classmates William Slade and Stephen Royce.[2] He graduated first in his class from the United States Military Academy in 1808, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Engineer Corps of the United States Army.[3] For the next three years, he served as an engineer in the construction of Fort Wood on Bedloe's Island. He resigned his commission in August 1811 and began the study of law.

In October 1812 he was appointed a second lieutenant in the 3rd Artillery, which he declined.[4] He instead raised a volunteer company of rangers, and was appointed a captain of the 31st Infantry in April 1813. He was honorably discharged on June 15, 1815.[5] Following his discharge, he was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law in Chelsea. He received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1823.[6]

Political career

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Buck held various political positions in Vermont, and was elected a member of the State house of representatives in 1816. He served in the State House three times, from 1816 to 1826, 1828–1830 and 1833–1835. He was Speaker of the House from 1820 to 1822, 1825–1826 and in 1829.[7]

He was State's Attorney for Orange County from 1819 to 1822 and 1830–1834. He was a presidential elector in 1820.[8] He was elected as an Adams-Clay Republican candidate to the Eighteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1823, to March 3, 1825. He was then elected to the Twentieth Congress, serving from March 4, 1827, to March 3, 1829.[9] He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1828. He was a trustee of the University of Vermont and Norwich University.

After leaving Congress he moved to Washington, D.C., and served as a clerk in the War Department from 1835 to 1839. He then served as a clerk in the Treasury Department in 1840.[10]

Buck died in Washington, D.C., on December 24, 1841, and is interred in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington D.C.[11]

Family life

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Buck married Philometa C. Dodge on November 10, 1816.[12] Their children were Daniel Buck, Elizabeth Morse Buck, Ben Buck and Londus Buck.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Partridge, Henry (1905). A History of Norwich, Vermont. Dartmouth Press. p. 175.
  2. ^ Partridge, Henry Villiers (1905). A History of Norwich, Vermont. Dartmouth Press. p. 175. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  3. ^ Ellis, William Arba (1911). Norwich university, 1819-1911: her history, her graduates, her roll of honor, pub. by Major-General Grenville M. Dodge. The Capital city press. p. 6. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  4. ^ Service profile
  5. ^ Heitman, Francis Bernard (1890). Historical Register of the United States Army: From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to September 29, 1889. National Tribune. p. 155. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  6. ^ Dartmouth College (1890). General catalogue of Dartmouth college and the associated institutions: including the officers of government and instruction, graduates and all others who have received honorary degrees. Dartmouth College. p. 153. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  7. ^ University of Vermont (1901). General catalogue of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Burlington, Vermont, 1791-1900. Free Press Association. p. 5. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  8. ^ Vermont Historical Society (1920). Proceedings of the Vermont Historical Society. The Society. p. 88. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  9. ^ Middlebury College (1917). Catalogue of Officers and Students of Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont: And of Others who Have Received Degrees, 1800-1915. The College. p. 9. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  10. ^ Ellis, William Arba (1911). Norwich university, 1819-1911: her history, her graduates, her roll of honor, pub. by Major-General Grenville M. Dodge. The Capital city press. p. 6. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Blake, John Lauris (1859). A biographical dictionary: comprising a summary account of the lives of the most distinguished persons of all ages, nations, and professions; including more than two thousand articles of American biography. H. Cowperthwait & co. p. 212. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  12. ^ Middlebury College (1917). Catalogue of Officers and Students of Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont: And of Others who Have Received Degrees, 1800-1915. The College. p. 9. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  13. ^ "Descendants of EDMUND BUCK". Ancestry.com. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
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Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
1820–1822
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 4th congressional district

March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825
Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
1825–1826
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 5th congressional district

March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829
Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
1829–1830
Succeeded by