US Senator, US Congressman. Born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, he attended the Academy there and graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover in 1828. He was admitted to the bar in 1832 and commenced practice in Barnstead, returning to his hometown in 1834 to establish a law office. From 1837 his life was dedicated to public service. Norris served seven terms in the State House of Representatives (1837 to 1840, 1842, 1847 to 1848), the last as Speaker, and was a member of the Governor's Council (1841 to 1842). A Democrat, he was elected as an At-large New Hampshire Representative to the Twenty-Eighth and Twenty-Ninth US Congresses, serving from 1843 to 1847; following a brief return to state politics he won election to the US Senate and served one term, from 1849 until his death in office. As Senator he was Chairman (for one year each) of the Committee on Claims, Committee on Patents and the Patent Office, and the Committee on the District of Columbia. Norris died of heart disease near the end of his term and was succeeded by John S. Wells. There is a cenotaph in his memory at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.
US Senator, US Congressman. Born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, he attended the Academy there and graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover in 1828. He was admitted to the bar in 1832 and commenced practice in Barnstead, returning to his hometown in 1834 to establish a law office. From 1837 his life was dedicated to public service. Norris served seven terms in the State House of Representatives (1837 to 1840, 1842, 1847 to 1848), the last as Speaker, and was a member of the Governor's Council (1841 to 1842). A Democrat, he was elected as an At-large New Hampshire Representative to the Twenty-Eighth and Twenty-Ninth US Congresses, serving from 1843 to 1847; following a brief return to state politics he won election to the US Senate and served one term, from 1849 until his death in office. As Senator he was Chairman (for one year each) of the Committee on Claims, Committee on Patents and the Patent Office, and the Committee on the District of Columbia. Norris died of heart disease near the end of his term and was succeeded by John S. Wells. There is a cenotaph in his memory at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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