Biography

Albert Haller Tracy was born June 17, 1793, in Norwich, Connecticut. He began the study of medicine with his father, but soon abandoned it to pursue a career in law. He was admitted to the bar in 1815, and settled in Buffalo, where he became a leading attorney. However, because of his absorption in politics, he seldom took on legal cases. His ability as a jurist was exhibited when he was in the New York State Senate (1830-1838) during the time when that body was also the Court for the Correction of Errors, the highest tribunal at the time in the state. He is said to have written and delivered many opinions which showed legal knowledge of the highest order.

Tracy aligned himself politically with the Anti-Masons, and later with the Whigs, working with Millard Fillmore, Thurlow Weed, William H. Seward, John C. Spencer, as well as with non-New Yorkers he met during his time in Congress (1819-1825), and in his work in connection with national party conventions which nominated its presidential candidates in 1824, 1828, 1832, and 1836.  Tracy also distinguished himself during his time in Congress as an expert in government financial affairs. For a time he served as chairman of the committee which oversaw the operations and expenditures of the Treasury Department. After his defeat in 1839 as a Whig candidate for the United States Senate, Tracy refused to be a candidate for public office or to accept any appointment to such, even a cabinet post. However, his advice continued to be sought.

Tracy was also involved in business and cultural affairs of Buffalo. He was one of nine original members of the Buffalo Harbor Company, organized in 1819; a member of the first board of directors of the branch of the United States Bank, established in Buffalo in 1826; one of the incorporators in 1846 of the University of Buffalo; and president of the Buffalo Water Works Company from 1855-1859.  He died in Buffalo, September 19, 1859.