About John Wells
Lived 1817 – 1877 (aged 59). John Wells was an American politician, lawyer and judge.
John Wells (July 1, 1817 – May 30, 1877) was a United States representative from New York. He was born in Johnstown on July 1, 1817. He attended Johnstown Academy, and graduated from Union College in 1835. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Palmyra. He returned to Johnstown and continued the practice of law, was elected judge of Fulton County and served from June 1847 until his resignation in December 1851, having been elected to Congress.
Wells was elected as a Whig to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853). He declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1852 to the Thirty-third Congress, resumed the practice of law and also engaged in literary pursuits. He died in Johnstown on May 30, 1877, with interment in Johnstown Cemetery.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Wells's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Wells?
United States Representative from New York
When was John Wells born?
John Wells was born on 1 July 1817 in Johnstown.
When did John Wells die?
John Wells died on 30 May 1877.
What was John Wells's occupation?
John Wells was a politician, lawyer and judge.
What nationality was John Wells?
John Wells was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Wells (New York politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Wells. https://biography.guide/john-wells-politician-1817/
MLA: "John Wells." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-wells-politician-1817/.
Chicago: "John Wells." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-wells-politician-1817/.
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