Alexander Harper (February 5, 1786 – December 1, 1860) was a U.S. Representative from Ohio for three different non-consecutive tenures in the mid-19th century.

Biography[edit]

Born near Belfast in the Kingdom of Ireland, Harper immigrated to the United States and settled in Zanesville, Ohio. He pursued preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1813, and commenced practice in Zanesville. He served as member of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1820 and 1821. He served as president judge of the Court of Common Pleas 1822–1836.

Congress[edit]

Harper was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839). He was later elected to the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Congresses (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Twenty-eighth Congress), and was on the Committee on Patents (Twenty-eighth Congress).

Harper was again elected to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853). He resumed the practice of law.

Death[edit]

He died in Zanesville on December 1, 1860, and was interred in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sources[edit]

• United States Congress. "Alexander Harper (id: H000219)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress