Henry Marchant

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Henry Marchant
HenryMarchant.jpg
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
In office
July 3, 1790 – August 30, 1796
Appointed byGeorge Washington
Preceded bySeat established by 1 Stat. 128
Succeeded byBenjamin Bourne
38th Attorney General of Rhode Island
In office
1771–1777
GovernorJoseph Wanton
Nicholas Cooke
Preceded byOliver Arnold
Succeeded byWilliam Channing
Personal details
Born
Henry Marchant

(1741-04-09)April 9, 1741
Martha's Vineyard,
Province of Massachusetts Bay,
British America
DiedAugust 30, 1796(1796-08-30) (aged 55)
Newport, Rhode Island
Resting placeCommon Burial Ground
Newport, Rhode Island
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (A.M.)
read law
Rebecca Cooke Marchant

Henry Marchant (April 9, 1741 – August 30, 1796) was 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.

Education and career[]

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, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, British America (State of Rhode Island, United States from July 4, 1776) 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 (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 would be adopted by a separate convention in 1790.[2]

Federal judicial service[]

Marchant 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 on August 30, 1796, due to his death in Newport.[1] He was interred in the Common Burial Ground in Newport.[2]

Notable case[]

Marchant presided over West v. Barnes (1791), which would be the first case appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.[citation needed]

Church and farm[]

Marchant was a member of Second Congregational Church of Newport.[3] His farm, the Henry Marchant Farm, is located in South Kingstown.[citation needed]

Note[]

  1. ^ FJC Bio indicates he read law in 1776, while his Congressional Biography indicates he was admitted to the bar in 1767.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Henry Marchant at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c United States Congress. "Henry Marchant (id: M000125)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  3. ^ 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[]

  • Lovejoy, David S. "Henry Marchant and the Mistress of the World." William and Mary Quarterly 3d ser., 12 (July 1955): 375–98.

Sources[]

Legal offices
Preceded by
 Attorney General of Rhode Island
1771–1777 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Seat established by 1 Stat. 128 		Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
1790–1796 		Succeeded by
Benjamin Bourne
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