Corning, Erastus
railroad president, banker, congressman, was born Dec. 14, 1794, in Norwich, Conn. In 1814 he moved to Albany, and continued in the hardware business, establishing the wellknown house, still in existence, of Erastus Corning and Co. His first public position was that of alderman of the city of Albany; from that he was promoted to mayor; and was also for several years an influential railroad, bank, and canal company president. For several terms he was a member of the state legislature; and was elected a representative to the thirtyfifth congress. In 1860 he was elected to the thirty-seventh congress; and reelected to the thirty-eighth congress. He died April 9, 1872, in Albany, N. Y.