William G. Laidlaw

William Grant Laidlaw ( born January 1, 1840 in Roxburghshire, Scotland, † August 19 1908 in Ellicottville, New York ) was an American politician. Between 1887 and 1891 he represented the State of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

In 1852, William Laidlaw came with his parents from his native Scotland after Franklinville, New York. He attended the public schools of his new home and the Ten Broek Free Academy. During the Civil War he served two years in the U.S. Navy. After studying law and his 1866 was admitted to the bar he began to work in this profession. Between 1867 and 1870 he was head of the first district in Cattaraugus County. In 1870 he moved to Ellicottville. From 1871 to 1877 he worked as an assessor for the tax authorities of the 31 control zone of its state. Between 1877 and 1883 he served as district attorney in Cattaraugus County.

Politically, Laidlaw became a member of the Republican Party. In the congressional elections of 1886, he was the 34th electoral district of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he became the successor of Walter L. Sessions on March 4, 1887. After a re-election he was able to complete in Congress until March 3, 1891 two legislative sessions. Since 1889 he was chairman of the Committee on Claims.

After the end of his time in the U.S. House of Representatives William Laidlaw again practiced as a lawyer. He died on 19 August 1908 in Ellicottville, where he was also buried.