Alfred Wagstaff, Jr.

Alfred Wagstaff Jr. (March 21, 1844 in New York City – October 2, 1921 in Babylon, New York) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals from 1906 until his death in 1921.

Life
He was the son of Alfred Wagstaff Sr. (c.1803–1878), a physician in New York City.

Commissioned as a colonel of the 16th Reg. of the New York National Guard in 1863, Wagstaff Jr. served during the New York Draft Riots in Brooklyn. In 1864, his regiment was transferred to the Union Army and stationed at Staten Island. In November 1864, he was commissioned a first lieutenant of the 91st New York Veteran Volunteers, and was detailed to the staff of Gen. William Walton Morris. In February 1865, he was promoted to major, served as Chief of Staff of General Samuel W. Crawford with the Army of the Potomac until the end of the war, and was brevetted as a lieutenant colonel.

Graduating LL.B. from Columbia Law School in 1866, Wagstaff Jr. was admitted to the bar, practiced in New York City, and resided in West Islip. He joined the New York City Bar Association.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Suffolk Co.) in 1867; and a delegate to the 1868 Republican National Convention. In 1872, he joined the Liberal Republican Party, and supported Horace Greeley for President. Afterwards he became a Democrat. He was again a member of the State Assembly (New York Co., 7th D.) in 1874; and a member of the New York State Senate (5th D.) from 1877 to 1879, sitting in the 100th, 101st and 102nd New York State Legislatures.

In 1880, he married Mary A. Barnard, and they had five children.

He was Clerk of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department from 1896 until his death; and President of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals from 1906 until his death.

On October 2, 1921 he died in Babylon, New York at age 77 from "a combination of ailments due to his age".