Isaac Chapman Bates is Born

Today in Masonic History Isaac Chapman Bates is born in 1779.

Isaac Chapman Bates was an American politician.

Bates was born on January 23rd, 1779 in Granville, Massachusetts. He went to Yale College in 1802. By 1808 he was practicing law in Northampton, Massachusetts. The same year he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives serving for one year.

In 1827, Bates was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Anti-Jacksonian Party. During the term of John Quincy Adams the party first appeared. Members of the Anti-Jacksonian party were referred to also as Adams Men. The party was created from a split in the Democratic-Republican party which at the time was the only political party in the country. From the split came the Anti-Jacksonian, led by President Adams and called the National Republican Party, and the Jackson's party which became Democrats. Bates served in the House until 1834 when he declined nomination for another term.

By the time Bates returned to Capitol Hill, this time in the United States Senate, he was a Whig. The Whig party was formed by the National Republican Party and, somewhat ironically for Bates, the Anti-Masonic Party in 1833. The Whig party was around until 1854, almost a decade after Bates passing. Bates was elected to finish out the term of John Davis starting in January of 1841. The term expired on March 3rd, 1841 and Bates was able to be elected to the seat for a full term taking the position on March 4th, 1841. In the Senate he served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Pensions.

Bates passed away in office on March 16th, 1845.

Bates was a member of Jerusalem Lodge in Northampton, Massachusetts.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.