Josiah Gardner Abbott
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Josiah Gardner Abbott (November 1, 1814 - June 2, 1891) was a Representative from Massachusetts. He was born in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and attended the Chelmsford Academy in Concord. He graduated from Harvard University in 1832 with an LL.D. degree, and then attended Williams College in Williamstown.
Following his schooling, Abbott worked as a teacher and a lawyer, then became a member of the Massachusetts state house of representatives in 1836 and a member of the Massachusetts state senate from 1841-1842. He was an aide to Governor Marcus Morton in 1843. From 1850 to 1855 he was a master in chancery. He also served as a member of the Massachusetts state constitutional convention, justice of the superior court for Suffolk County, an overseer of Harvard University, and several times was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for United States Senator.
In 1860, Abboott declined an appointment to the United States Supreme Court, and in 1861 declined the Democratic nomination for state attorney general. He finally was victorious as a Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives, and served from July 28, 1876-March 3, 1877. He was a member of the Electoral Commission created by the act of Congress approved January 29, 1877, to decide the presidential election of 1876.
He died in Wellesley Hills near Boston, and was interred in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts.