Amasa Dana

Amasa Dana was an American lawyer and politician who served two non-consecutive terms as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1839 to 1841, and from 1843 to 1845.

Biography

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Dana was the son of Aziel Dana and Rebecca Dana. He attended private schools and Dana Academy in Wilkes-Barre, studied law with his uncle Eleazer Dana in Owego, New York, attained admission to the bar in 1817 and practiced in Owego.

Political career

Dana moved to Ithaca, New York in 1821 and continued the practice of law. He served as district attorney of Tompkins County from 1823 to 1837. He served as member of the New York State Assembly in 1828 and 1829. He served as president and trustee of the village of Ithaca in 1835, 1836, and 1839.
In 1837, Dana was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Tompkins County. He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1840, and resumed the practice of law. From 1842 to 1843, Dana served as Ithaca's town supervisor.

Tenure in Congress

Dana was elected to the Twenty-eighth Congress. During this term, he served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy. He resumed practicing law, and also engaged in banking and business, including serving as president of the Tompkins County National Bank. He died in Ithaca, New York, on December 24, 1867. He was interred in Ithaca City Cemetery.

Family

In 1828, Dana married Mary Harper Speed, the daughter of Doctor Joseph Speed of Caroline, New York. They had no children.