Asa Packer

Asa Packer
19th century portrait of Packer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 13th district
In office
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1857
Preceded byJames Gamble
Succeeded byWilliam H. Dimmick
4th & 6th President of Lehigh Valley Railroad
In office
1868–1879
Preceded byWilliam M. Longstreth
Succeeded byWilliam M. Longstreth
In office
1862–1864
Preceded byJ. Gillingham Fell
Succeeded byCharles Hartshorne
Associate Judge of Carbon County
In office
1843–1844
Member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
1842–1843
Personal details
Born(1805-12-29)December 29, 1805
Mystic, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedMay 17, 1879(1879-05-17) (aged 73)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSarah Minerva Blakslee
OccupationBusinessman, railroad executive, politician
Signature

Asa Packer (December 29, 1805 – May 17, 1879) was an American businessman who pioneered railroad construction, was active in Pennsylvania politics, and founded Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He was a conservative and religious man who reflected the image of the typical Connecticut Yankee. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1853 to 1857.