George Sanderson (politician)


George Sanderson was an American politician who served as a Whig member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 17th district from 1851 to 1854 and as the tenth mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania from 1859 to 1868.

Early life

Sanderson was born in Boston, Massachusetts and received his education at the Boston Latin School. He worked in merchandising in New York City, New York and moved to Geneva, New York. He married Marion Kingsbury and moved to Towanda, Pennsylvania. He studied law and served as District Attorney for six years before quitting to work in private business.

Career

He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 17th district and served from 1851 to 1854. He befriended Colonel George W. Scranton in 1853 and became one of the founders of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
As mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Sanderson formed the Lancaster City Police force in 1865.
He died at his home in Green Ridge, Scranton on April 1, 1886 and was interred at Forest Hill Cemetery in Dunmore, Pennsylvania.