Cornelius Darragh

Cornelius Darragh
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district
In office March 26, 1844 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	William Wilkins
Succeeded by	Moses Hampton
25th Attorney General of Pennsylvania
In office January 4, 1849 – April 28, 1851
Preceded by	James Cooper
Succeeded by	Thomas E. Franklin
Personal details
Born	1809 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Died	December 22, 1854 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Resting place	Allegheny Cemetery
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Western University of Pennsylvania

Cornelius Darragh (1809 – December 22, 1854) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and politician. He served as a state Senator, a U. S. District Attorney, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and state Attorney General.

Personal life and career

Cornelius Darragh was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of John Darragh, Jr. and Margaret "Peggy" Calhoun, one of six children. He attended the Western University of Pennsylvania, and graduated with the class of 1826. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1829 and commenced practice in Pittsburgh. In 1830, he married Mary Holmes Simpson. They had two daughters, Margaret Calhoun and Elizabeth Simpson.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1836 to 1839. He was United States district attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania from 1841 to 1844. Darragh was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William Wilkins. He was reelected to the Twenty-ninth Congress. He served as attorney general of Pennsylvania from January 4, 1849, to April 28, 1851.

Darragh died in Pittsburgh in 1854 and was interred in Allegheny Cemetery. Darragh Street, near the Upper Campus of the University of Pittsburgh, is named for him and/or his father.

Sources

• Cornelius Darragh at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard

External links

• Cornelius Darragh at Find a Grave

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William Wilkins	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district 1844 - 1847	Succeeded by Moses Hampton
Legal offices
Preceded by James Cooper	Attorney General of Pennsylvania 1849–1851	Succeeded by Thomas E. Franklin