Gurdon S. Mumford

Who was Gurdon S. Mumford?

Gurdon Saltonstall Mumford was a United States Representative from New York.

Born in New London, Connecticut, he attended the common schools and was a private secretary to Benjamin Franklin during the latter part of his official residence in Paris. He returned with Franklin to America in 1785 and settled in New York City. He became associated with his brothers in the commission business in 1791, and was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative-elect Daniel D. Tompkins. He was reelected to the Tenth and Eleventh Congresses and served from March 4, 1805 to March 3, 1811. While in the House, he was chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures.

Mumford was a presidential elector in 1812 and voted for Dewitt Clinton and Jared Ingersoll.

He was elected director of the Bank of New York the same year, and opened a broker's office in Wall Street in 1813 and was one of the founders of the New York Exchange. He died in New York City; interment was in Old Collegiate Dutch Church Cemetery.