Henry Marchant (April 9, 1741 – August 30, 1796) was a Founding Father of the United States, an attorney general of Rhode Island, a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from Rhode Island, a signer of the Articles of Confederation, and the first United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
Henry Marchant | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Etching of Henry Marchant by Max Rosenthal | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island | |
| In office July 3, 1790 – August 30, 1796 | |
| Appointed by | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 1 Stat. 128 |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Bourne |
| 38th Attorney General of Rhode Island | |
| In office 1771–1777 | |
| Governor | Joseph Wanton Nicholas Cooke |
| Preceded by | Oliver Arnold |
| Succeeded by | William Channing |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 9, 1741 Martha's Vineyard, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America |
| Died | August 30, 1796 (aged 55) Newport, Rhode Island |
| Resting place | Common Burial Ground Newport, Rhode Island |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania (A.M.) read law |
Education and career
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Born on April 9, 1741, in Martha's Vineyard, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America,[1] Marchant received an Artium Magister degree in 1762 from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) and read law in 1776.[Note 1][1] He entered private practice in Newport from 1767 to 1777.[1] He was attorney general of Rhode Island from 1771 to 1777.[1] He was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779.[1] He was one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation.[2] He resumed private practice in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, from 1780 to 1784, also engaging in farming.[1] He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1784 to 1790.[1] He was a member of the Rhode Island convention to adopt the United States Constitution, which ultimately was adopted by a separate convention in 1790.[2]
Federal judicial service
editMarchant was nominated by President George Washington on July 2, 1790, to the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, to a new seat authorized by 1 Stat. 128.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 3, 1790, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated when he died on August 30, 1796, in Newport.[1] He was interred in the Common Burial Ground in Newport.[2]
Notable case
editMarchant presided over West v. Barnes (1791), which was the first case appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Church and farm
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Marchant was a member of Second Congregational Church of Newport.[3] His farm, the Henry Marchant Farm, is located in South Kingstown.
Note
edit- ^ FJC Bio indicates he read law in 1776, while his Congressional Biography indicates he was admitted to the bar in 1767.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Henry Marchant at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ a b c United States Congress. "Henry Marchant (id: M000125)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ Adams, Charles Francis (July 19, 1853). "The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations (Volume 8)". Little Brown. p. 61 – via Google Books.
Further reading
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- Lovejoy, David S. "Henry Marchant and the Mistress of the World." William and Mary Quarterly 3d ser., 12 (July 1955): 375–98.
Sources
edit- United States Congress. "Henry Marchant (id: M000125)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Henry Marchant at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.