Moss Kent
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{infobox officeholder
| name = Moss Kent
| state = New York
| district = {{ushr|NY|18|18th}}
| term_start = March 4, 1813
| term_end = March 3, 1817
| preceded = District created
| successor = David A. Ogden
| office2 = Member of the New York State Assembly
| term2 = 1807, 1810
| office3 = Member of the New York State Senate
| term_start3 = 1799
| term_end3 = 1803
| image = Moss Kent.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1766|4|3}}
| birth_place = Croton-on-Hudson, Province of New York, British America
| death_date = {{death date and age|1838|5|30|1766|4|3}}
| death_place = Plattsburgh, New York, U.S.
| party = Federalist
| father = Moss Kent Sr.
| relatives = James Kent (brother)
}}
Moss Kent (April 3, 1766 – May 30, 1838) was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Kent's Parish, part of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, he completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced there. He moved to Cooperstown, New York, and was a member of the New York State Senate from 1799 to 1803 and the New York State Assembly in 1807 and 1810. He ran twice in New York's 10th congressional district while a legislator, first in 1798{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - NY District 10 Race - Apr 24, 1798 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=282151 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} and then 1808,{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - NY District 10 Race - Apr 26, 1808 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=283358 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} losing by less than 10 points in both elections.
He moved to Champion, and was appointed judge of Jefferson County on February 26, 1810. In 1812, he was elected to Congress as a Federalist. He was reelected in 1814, and served in the 13th and 14th Congresses (March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817) as the representative of the newly created 18th District.
He pursued the daughter of friend and business associate William Cooper, Hannah Cooper. She died at age 23, and Kent never married.
After leaving Congress he resumed the practice of law, and later moved to Plattsburgh. He died in Plattsburgh on May 30, 1838, and was interred in Plattsburgh's Riverside Cemetery.
His father was Moss Kent Sr., a New York lawyer and judge. His brother was James Kent, another prominent jurist and legal scholar.
References
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{{US House succession box
| state=New York
| district= 18
| new= district
| after= David A. Ogden
| years= 1813 – 1817}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kent, Moss}}
Category:New York state court judges
Category:New York (state) state senators
Category:Members of the New York State Assembly
Category:People from Croton-on-Hudson, New York
Category:People from Cooperstown, New York
Category:Politicians from Otsego County, New York
Category:People from Champion, New York
Category:Politicians from Plattsburgh, New York
Category:19th-century members of the New York State Legislature
Category:19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives
Category:18th-century members of the New York State Legislature