Deaths in the 1850s

Washington Irving

1783–1859 (age 76)

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

American author and cofounder of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, famous for writing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Gamaliel Bailey

1807–1859 (age 52)

Oak Hill Cemetery

Abolitionist editor and publisher of the National Era newspaper.

William Beaumont

1785–1853 (age 68)

Bellefontaine Cemetery

U.S. Army surgeon known as the Father of Gastric Physiology for his research on human digestion.

Thomas Hart Benton

1782–1858 (age 76)

Bellefontaine Cemetery

Prominent U.S. Senator who championed western expansion and the Homestead Act.

John Biddle

1792–1859 (age 67)

Elmwood Cemetery

Delegate to U.S. Congress from Michigan Territory and Mayor of Detroit.

Jonathan Kearsley

1786–1859 (age 73)

Elmwood Cemetery

Two-time Mayor of Detroit and War of 1812 veteran.

Lucius Lyon

1800–1851 (age 51)

Elmwood Cemetery

U.S. Senator and first congressman from Michigan's second district who helped found Grand Rapids.

John Norvell

1789–1850 (age 61)

Elmwood Cemetery

U.S. Senator and War of 1812 veteran who worked as a newspaper editor.

John R. Williams

1782–1854 (age 72)

Elmwood Cemetery

First and sixth Mayor of Detroit under the second charter and namesake of John R. Street.

Cornelius Darragh

1809–1854 (age 45)

Allegheny Cemetery

United States Congressman.

Harmar Denny

1794–1852 (age 58)

Allegheny Cemetery

United States Congressman.

Walter Forward

1786–1852 (age 66)

Allegheny Cemetery

United States Secretary of the Treasury.

William Wallace Irwin

1803–1856 (age 53)

Allegheny Cemetery

United States Congressman and Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1840 to 1841.

William Kerr

1809–1853 (age 44)

Allegheny Cemetery

Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1846 to 1847.

Robert M. Riddle

1812–1858 (age 46)

Allegheny Cemetery

Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1853 to 1854.

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton

1757–1854 (age 97)

Trinity Church Cemetery

Co-founder and deputy director of New York's first private orphanage, now Graham Windham.

John James Audubon

1785–1851 (age 66)

Trinity Church Cemetery

Ornithologist and naturalist known for his bird illustrations and studies.

Abraham Kershaw

1814–1854 (age 40)

San Francisco

Abraham Kershaw was an American resident of Oyster Bay who lived from 1814 to 1854.

Nicholas Marcellus Hentz

1797–1856 (age 59)

Philadelphia

Nicholas Marcellus Hentz was a naturalist and educator born in Versailles who lived from 1797 to 1856.

Caroline Lee Hentz

1800–1856 (age 56)

Philadelphia

Caroline Lee Hentz was an American author and writer born in Lancaster who lived from 1800 to 1856.

Henry Adams Bullard

1788–1851 (age 63)

Girod Street Cemetery

Henry Adams Bullard was an American jurist and politician from Pepperell who lived from 1788 to 1851.

William Wallace Smith Bliss

1815–1853 (age 38)

Girod Street Cemetery

William Wallace Smith Bliss was an American physician and editor from Todd County who lived from 1815 to 1853.

Heman Allen

1779–1852 (age 73)

Burlington

Heman Allen was an American Revolutionary War officer and politician from Poultney who lived from 1779 to 1852.

John Marie Durst

1797–1851 (age 54)

Leon County

John Marie Durst was an American resident of Arkansas Post who lived from 1797 to 1851.

Daniel Block

1802–1853 (age 51)

St. Louis

Daniel Block was an American businessman and civic leader in St. Louis who lived from 1802 to 1853.

David Stewart

1800–1858 (age 58)

Westminster Hall and Burying Ground

David Stewart was an American merchant and civic figure from Baltimore who lived from 1800 to 1858.

Philip Barton Key II

1818–1859 (age 41)

Westminster Hall and Burying Ground

Philip Barton Key II was an American lawyer and politician from Georgetown who lived from 1818 to 1859.

Charles Augustus Cheever

1793–1852 (age 59)

Portsmouth

Charles Augustus Cheever was an American clergyman and author from Boston who lived from 1793 to 1852.

Kaliokalani

1835–1852 (age 17)

Honolulu

Kaliokalani was a Hawaiian princess and member of the royal family who lived from 1835 to 1852.

Jacob Bell

1792–1852 (age 60)

Darien

Jacob Bell was an American pharmacist and chemist from Stamford who lived from 1792 to 1852.

Zachary Taylor

1784–1850 (age 66)

Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States who served from 1849 until his death in 1850.

Margaret Taylor

1788–1852 (age 64)

Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

Margaret Taylor was the wife of President Zachary Taylor and First Lady of the United States from 1849 to 1850.

Hugh McVay

1766–1851 (age 85)

Florence

Hugh McVay was a South Carolina resident who lived from 1766 to 1851 and was buried in Florence.

William Butler

1790–1850 (age 60)

Van Buren

William Butler was a Saluda County resident who lived from 1790 to 1850 and was buried in Van Buren.

Governor Blacksnake

1737–1859 (age 122)

Cattaraugus County

Governor Blacksnake was a Native American leader who lived from 1737 to 1859 and was buried in Cattaraugus County.

William Schley

1786–1858 (age 72)

Augusta

William Schley was a Frederick resident who lived from 1786 to 1858 and was buried in Augusta.

Harriet Bennet Mackall

1824–1850 (age 26)

Prince William County

Harriet Bennet Mackall was a Maryland resident who lived from 1824 to 1850 and was buried in Prince William County.

George Washington Parke Custis

1781–1857 (age 76)

Arlington National Cemetery

George Washington Parke Custis was a Maryland-born descendant of George Washington who lived from 1781 to 1857 and was b...

Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis

1788–1853 (age 65)

Arlington National Cemetery

Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis was a Chatham Manor resident who lived from 1788 to 1853 and was buried in Arlington National C...

John McComb Jr.

1763–1853 (age 90)

Green-Wood Cemetery

John McComb Jr. was a New York City architect who lived from 1763 to 1853 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

William S. Miller

1793–1854 (age 61)

Green-Wood Cemetery

William S. Miller was a Bloomfield resident who lived from 1793 to 1854 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Thomas W. Cumming

1814–1855 (age 41)

Green-Wood Cemetery

Thomas W. Cumming was a Frederick resident who lived from 1814 to 1855 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Dudley Selden

1794–1855 (age 61)

Green-Wood Cemetery

Dudley Selden was a New York resident who lived from 1794 to 1855 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

William Colgate

1783–1857 (age 74)

Green-Wood Cemetery

William Colgate was an English-born businessman who lived from 1783 to 1857 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Walter Hunt

1796–1859 (age 63)

Green-Wood Cemetery

Walter Hunt was a New York inventor who lived from 1796 to 1859 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Anson Green Phelps

1781–1853 (age 72)

Green-Wood Cemetery

Anson Green Phelps was a Simsbury resident and prominent businessman who lived from 1781 to 1853 and was buried in Green...

John Henry Hobart Haws

1809–1858 (age 49)

Green-Wood Cemetery

John Henry Hobart Haws was a New York City resident who lived from 1809 to 1858 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Michael Walsh

1810–1859 (age 49)

Green-Wood Cemetery

Michael Walsh was an Irish-born resident of Youghal who died in 1859.

Thomas R. Whitney

1807–1858 (age 51)

Green-Wood Cemetery

Thomas R. Whitney was a New York City resident who lived from 1807 to 1858.

Thomas Crawford

1813–1857 (age 44)

Green-Wood Cemetery

Thomas Crawford was a New York City-based sculptor and artist who died in 1857.