Joseph Kirkland (congressman)
Joseph Kirkland (January 18, 1770 – January 26, 1844) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Early life. Joseph Kirkland was born on January 18, 1770 in Newent Society, in that part of the Town of Norwich which was later separated as the Town of Lisbon, in New London County, Connecticut, to Joseph Kirkland and Hannah Perkins. Career. Kirkland graduated from Yale College in 1790. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in New Hartford, New York. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Oneida Co.) in 1804  and 1804–05. He removed to Utica in 1813, and was District Attorney for the Sixth District (comprising Otsego, Herkimer and Oneida counties) from 1813 to 1816. He was again a member of the State Assembly in 1818 (Oneida Co.) and in 1820-21 (Oneida and Oswego Co.). He was elected as a Federalist to the 17th United States Congress, holding office from December 3, 1821, to March 4, 1823. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law, and was again a member of the State Assembly (Oneida Co.) in 1825; When Utica was incorporated as a city in 1832, Kirkland became  the new city's first mayor and served from 1832 to 1836. Personal Life. Kirkland had 2 daughters with his girlfriend Sarah Backus Death. Kirkland died on January 26, 1844, in Utica, New York; and was buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery there.