Stephen N. Gifford

Stephen Nye Gifford (1815-1886) was an American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Massachusetts Auditor and was clerk of the Massachusetts Senate from January 6, 1858, to April 18, 1886.

Born in Pembroke, Massachusetts on July 21, 1815, he was educated at Hanover Academy and the academy at Bridgewater. As a young man he was employed as a schoolteacher, eventually establishing a private academy at Duxbury. In 1850 he was elected as a Whig to represent Duxbury in the state house of representatives. In 1851 he was appointed Inspector in the Boston Custom House; in 1855 he was chosen to supply a vacancy in the office of State Auditor. In 1855 and 1857 he served as assistant clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and in 1858 he became Clerk of the Senate, holding that post for 28 years until his death in 1886. During this time he was noted as a parliamentary expert and authority on technical points of legislation.