Bradish, Luther

Bradish, Luther president of the American Bible Society, was born at Cummington, Mass., Sept. 15, 1783, graduated at Williams College in 1804, and was shortly afterward admitted to the New York bar. He served as a volunteer in the war of 1812. In 1820 he rendered very efficient aid to the government in the negotiation of the treaty with Turkey. For the purpose of acquiring information for the government preparatory to this negotiation, he travelled through the greater portion of the dominions of the sultan. Shortly after his return to this country, after an absence of six years, he was honored with a seat in the State Legislature, and again in .1835. In 1838 he was 'Speaker of the Assembly, and in the same year was chosen lieutenant governor of the state, and again in 1840. In 1842 he was the Whig candidate for governor, but -failed of election. During the administration of president Fillmore Mr. Bradish received the appointment of United States assistant treasurer for New York. From that time he took no active part in political life, but devoted his ample leisure to literary and benevolent institutions. In 1844 he was elected first vice-president of the New York Historical Society, and on the death of Mr. Gallatin in 1849, was elected president. He was chosen vice-president of the American Bible Society in 1847, and succeeded to the presidency of that institution on the death of Mr. Frelinghuysen in 1861. He died at Newport on August 20, 1863. He was a prominent member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.