Joseph Cilley

Who was Joseph Cilley?

Joseph Cilley was a United States Senator from New Hampshire.

Cilley was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire, the son of Greenleaf Cilley and his wife Jane Nealy. He was also the grandson of Revolutionary War officer Joseph Cilley after whom he was named. He was the nephew of Bradbury Cilley and brother of Jonathan Cilley. Cilley was educated at Atkinson Academy and joined the army to fight in the War of 1812 as an officer in the 21st Infantry Regiment seeing action at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor and Battle of Chrysler's Farm. Joseph Cilley was severely wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, he was shot through the leg by a musket ball causing a compound fracture. He attained the brevetted rank of captain, was the quartermaster of the New Hampshire Militia in 1817, and the division inspector in 1821.

After his military service Joseph Cilley became an aide-de-camp to Governor Benjamin Pierce in 1827. He was then elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Levi Woodbury and served from June 13, 1846 to March 4, 1847. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1846, after which he retired to his farm in Nottingham. He was interred in the general Joseph Cilley Burying Ground in Nottingham Square.