| Notes |
- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH XXII.
CALEB SMITH WOODHULL, (Hon.), sixth generation from Richard Wodhull I., Patentee of Brookhaven, Long Island, was the fourth son of Merritt Smith Woodhull and Mary Davis. He was born February 26, 1792, at Miller's Place, Long Island.
He pursued his classical course preparatory to College, under the Rev. Herman Daggett, of Brookhaven, Long Island. He entered Yale College in 1808, at the age of fifteen, then under the Presidency of Dr. Dwight, and graduated with the honors of his class in 1811.
He taught for a few months after his graduation and then commenced the study of law, with George W. Strong, a New York lawyer of high repute.
He was a private in the War of 1812, a member of the Militia in New York City, which were the guardians of the city, but saw no active service. He continued in the Militia for many years, holding several commissions during that period. Owing to his disapproval of certain methods, then in vogue, he resigned his commission in 1830, urging, at the same time, the necessity for, and strongly recommending, a system that was afterwards adopted.
In 1817 he was admitted to the New York Bar, as Counsellor-at-Law. He was a warm advocate of the Whig party, and at the Charter election in the Spring of 1836, was chosen to represent the second ward in the Common Council, and was continued by his constituents a member of that body for eight successive years.
In 1843 he was President of the Board of Aldermen and of the Common Council, and was elected Mayor of the City of New York in the Spring of 1849, which office he held until January, 1851, when he retired from political life.
During the term of his Mayoralty, this country was visited by Jenny Lind, the celebrated Swedish singer, and he was her only adviser as to her many charities bestowed upon the poor and needy of the great city.
During this time the famous singer spent an evening at the hospitable home of Mr. Woodhull, the memory of which is treasured by his children to this day. General Louis Kossuth was another distinguished visitor to this home.
The "Astor Place Riot" was an event in his political career which called down both censure and high praise, censure because he was thought to have been too humane in not sooner giving the order to fire upon the surging mob of maddened men. He however received many congratulatory letters for the course pursued upon that memorable night, among which was one from Queen Victoria, thanking him for protecting one of her British subjects.
Caleb Smith Woodhull was for many years Chairman of the Law Committee, during which period many measures of importance were recommended or defeated by his strong influence.
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In 1844 he was chosen by the political friends of Henry Clay, one of the Presidential Electors for New York State, and with the exception of the Hon. John A. Collier, received the highest number of votes.
"He was a man of broad political outlook, and possessed not only the unshaken confidence and esteem of his friends, but the high regard of his political opponents as well.
"His sound judgment, integrity and talents made him a man of great usefulness in his generation."
Although never very robust, he was remarkably active throughout his life. He was tall, slender, and very erect.
Until his marriage he was a Presbyterian, after which he attended the Collegiate Church, in Fulton St., New York.
In 1818, he married Lavinia Nostrander, who died within a few months. In 1830, he married Harriet, daughter of Abraham Fardon, of New York City.
He died at his birth-place, Miller's Place, Long Island, July 16, 1866, leaving a son and daughter.
(See Genealogy, No. 144.)
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1792 - 1866 (74 years)
