Hendrick Bradley Wright was born and raised in northeastern Pennsylvania . After studying law at Dickinson College , Wright returned to Wilkes-Barre and quickly became known as a gifted attorney and orator . His powers of speech earned him notice in Pennsylvania Democratic Party circles , as well as the nickname " Old-Man-Not-Afraid-To-Be-Called-A-Demagogue " . He became a district attorney for Luzerne County in 1834 and was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1841 . Wright was reelected in 1842 and 1843 , serving as Speaker in his final term . He served as president of the 1844 Democratic National Convention , working with the anti-Van Buren faction to prevent that former President 's nomination . After the convention , he sought a seat in the United States Senate , but was unsuccessful
1844 Democratic National Convention
1844 Democratic National Convention
1880 Greenback National Convention