Military and Political Leader. He was raised and educated in Essex County, New York and became a teacher, surveyor, and engineer. From 1854 to 1857 he was Pierepont Town Supervisor, and from 1857 to 1860 he was Clerk of the St. Lawrence County Board of Supervisors. Merritt served in the New York Assembly from 1860 to 1861. During the Civil War he was Quartermaster of the Sixtieth New York Infantry with the rank of Captain, and took part in campaigns in Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. He was later stationed in Washington and assigned to supply reinforcements departing for the front lines. In January, 1865 he was appointed Quartermaster General of the New York Militia with the rank of Brigadier General, an position he held until 1869, and in April of that year he was New York's official representative at Lincoln's second inaugural. Merritt was a Delegate to the 1867 state constitutional convention, and from 1869 to 1871 he was US Naval Officer for the Port of New York. In 1871 he declined appointment as US Minister to Brazil. In 1875 he was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for State Treasurer. In 1877 he was appointed Surveyor of the Port of New York, and in 1879 he was selected to serve as the port's US Collector of Customs, holding office until 1881. That year he was appointed US Consul General in London, a post he held until 1885. Long interested in higher education, he was a Trustee of St. Lawrence University and Clarkson College, and played a key role in establishing what is now the State University of New York at Potsdam. General Merritt was the father of Congressman Edwin A. Merritt, Jr.
Military and Political Leader. He was raised and educated in Essex County, New York and became a teacher, surveyor, and engineer. From 1854 to 1857 he was Pierepont Town Supervisor, and from 1857 to 1860 he was Clerk of the St. Lawrence County Board of Supervisors. Merritt served in the New York Assembly from 1860 to 1861. During the Civil War he was Quartermaster of the Sixtieth New York Infantry with the rank of Captain, and took part in campaigns in Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. He was later stationed in Washington and assigned to supply reinforcements departing for the front lines. In January, 1865 he was appointed Quartermaster General of the New York Militia with the rank of Brigadier General, an position he held until 1869, and in April of that year he was New York's official representative at Lincoln's second inaugural. Merritt was a Delegate to the 1867 state constitutional convention, and from 1869 to 1871 he was US Naval Officer for the Port of New York. In 1871 he declined appointment as US Minister to Brazil. In 1875 he was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for State Treasurer. In 1877 he was appointed Surveyor of the Port of New York, and in 1879 he was selected to serve as the port's US Collector of Customs, holding office until 1881. That year he was appointed US Consul General in London, a post he held until 1885. Long interested in higher education, he was a Trustee of St. Lawrence University and Clarkson College, and played a key role in establishing what is now the State University of New York at Potsdam. General Merritt was the father of Congressman Edwin A. Merritt, Jr.
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