Selden became the case reporter for the New York State Court of Appeals in 1851 . Originally a Democrat , he became an abolitionist and founding member of the New York Republican Party in 1856 , and was elected Lieutenant Governor that November . In 1858 , Yale College conferred the degree of LL.D . on him . He returned to Rochester in 1859 . He was a Delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
Henry R. Selden