John Fay was an American politician from New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

.

Life

Fay attended the common schools for a period of only six months. He removed to New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 with his parents, who settled in Montgomery County

Montgomery County, New York

As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...

, and later in Galway

Galway (town), New York

Galway is a town located in Saratoga County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,589. The town is in the western part of the county and is north of Schenectady. Galway is a rural community with a mixture of small business, farming, and residential homes. The...

, Saratoga County

Saratoga County, New York

Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...

.

In 1804, Fay removed to Northampton, then in Montgomery County. He became a land surveyor

Surveying

See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

 and later engaged in agricultural pursuits, milling, and manufacturing. He held various local offices and was Postmaster of Northampton for several years. He was a member from Montgomery County of the New York State Assembly

New York State Assembly

The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...

 in 1808-09 and 1812.

Fay was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 16th United States Congress

16th United States Congress

-House of Representatives:During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Alabama and one seat was reapportioned from Massachusetts to the new state of Maine. For the beginning of the next congress, six more seats from Massachusetts would be reapportioned to...

, holding office from March 4, 1819, to March 3, 1821. Afterwards he resumed his former activities. He was a presidential elector on the Democratic James K. Polk

James K. Polk

James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...

 ticket in 1844

United States presidential election, 1844

In the United States presidential election of 1844, Democrat James K. Polk defeated Whig Henry Clay in a close contest that turned on foreign policy, with Polk favoring the annexation of Texas and Clay opposed....

.

He was buried at the Old Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Northampton.