Biography

05/07/1803 - 01/19/1878

Doctor Edward Despard Gazzam (R22) Allegheny (Part) County 1857 (R24) Allegheny (Part) County 1858-1859

Early Life:

Doctor Edward Despard Gazzam, born May 7, 1803, Pittsburgh; son of William and Martha Hart Gazzam; abolitionist; Western University of Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh), 1824; Pittsburgh Postmaster, 1824; studied law under Richard Biddle, admitted, Allegheny bar, 1826; attorney; conferred, medical degree, University of Pennsylvania, 1831; married, Elizabeth Antoinette de Beleen, 1835, children, Audley William, Emma Louise, Joseph Murphy Gazzam; physician; unsuccessful campaign, Locofoco Democrats Pennsylvania State Senate, 1839; unsuccessful campaign, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1841; unsuccessful campaign, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, special election, 1844; founding delegate, with future United States Chief Justice Salmon Chase, Free Soil Party, Buffalo Free Soil Convention, 1848; unsuccessful campaign, Free Soil Party candidate, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1848; unsuccessful campaign, Free Soil, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1855; aligned, Republican Party, 1856; delegate, Republican National Convention, Philadelphia, 1856; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1857-1859; died January 19, 1878 (aged 74), Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Unsuccessful campaign, Locofoco Democrats Pennsylvania State Senate, losing narrowly to Thomas Williams, Anti-Masonic Party candidate, 1839.

Unsuccessful campaign, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, lost one vote, George Darsie, Whig candidate, 1841.

Unsuccessful campaign, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, Pennsylvania 21st congressional district, special election, Whig Cornelius Darragh, 1844.

Unsuccessful campaign, Free Soil Party candidate, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1848. 

unsuccessful campaign, Free Soil, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1855.

Delegate, Republican National Convention, Philadelphia, 1856.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 22nd district, Allegheny (Part) County, 1857, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 24th district, Allegheny (Part) County, 1858-1859.

Legacy:

Father, William Gazzam prominent Burwell, England journalist, forced to leave England, avoid political arrest for his radicalism; named for Edward Despard, a friend of his fathers in England who was executed for treason, for expressing political views critical of Parliament and the King. 

Son, Audley Gazzam, bankruptcy lawyer who wrote several books on the subject, major, Pennsylvania 103rd Volunteer Infantry, Civil War. 

Son, Joseph Murphy Gazzam, Pennsylvania State Senate, 43rd district, Allegheny (Part) County, 1877-1880. 

Joseph Murphy Gazzam  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

 Dr Edward Despard Gazzam (1803-1878) - Find a Grave Memorial