John Sullivan (New Hampshire, federal judge)
John Sullivan (1740-1795) was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. He joined the court in 1789 after an appointment from George Washington. He is most famous for having chaired the constitutional convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution. He served until his death in 1795.[1][2]
Early life and education
- Read law, 1760[2]
Legal education
According to his biography, Sullivan's legal education was born of happenstance. His biography tells us:
"In 1758 Sullivan was employed by Samuel Livermore of Portsmouth, a lawyer, to take care of the horses and perform general labor. One evening while Mr. Livermore was not at home, a defendant came to the house and, figuring that anyone from the office would be sufficient, he asked the young Mr. Sullivan to take his defense; Sullivan agreed. When Mr. Livermore returned, he found no one to care for his horse. Upon learning where his employee had gone, Mr. Livermore went to the Deacon Penhallow House and slipped into an adjoining room to hear Sullivan plead his case. Sullivan was successful and the client was acquitted. The next morning Mr. Livermore told John the kitchen was no place for him, that he should pursue his law studies and that he would assist him in whatever he needed. Sullivan became Livermore's student and later established his own legal practice in Durham."[1]
Military service
Sullivan was active in the revolutionary army, earning the rank of Major-General by the time of his resignation in 1779.[1]
Personal life
According to his biography:
"John Sullivan was described by his contemporaries as brave, hot headed, oversensitive, generous to a fault, usually out of money, and a born political organizer. His Irish antipathy for all things English spurred him to the Patriot cause during the American Revolution.
General John Sullivan lacked military education or experience, yet he served his country valiantly in time of war. Sullivan did not possess inherited wealth and influence, and he lacked higher education. His father, a schoolmaster, instilled in him a drive to learn that served him throughout his legal career. Through his own hard work, Sullivan became a respected member of the bar, acquired wealth and a considerable amount of property in Durham, New Hampshire, and gained the respect apparent in his numerous civil offices."[1]
Professional career
- Private practice, Durham, New Hampshire, 1760-1789
- Continental Army Major General, 1772-1779
- Delegate from New Hampshire to the Continental Congresses, 1774, 1775, 1780-1781
- State attorney general, New Hampshire, 1782-1786
- New Hampshire State Assemblyman
- Speaker, 1785, 1788
- President, New Hampshire, 1786-1787, 1789
- Chairman, convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution, 1788[2]
Judicial career
District of New Hampshire
Sullivan was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. He is most famous for having chaired the constitutional convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution. He was nominated by George Washington on September 24, 1789 to a new seat authorized by 1 Stat. 73. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and commissioned two days later, on September 26, 1789, and served until his death in 1795.[1] Sullivan was succeeded in this position by John Pickering.
See also
External links
- District of New Hampshire
- Judges of the New Hampshire District
- Biography at the Federal Judicial Center.
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: NA |
District of New Hampshire 1789–1795 Seat #1 |
Succeeded by: John Pickering
|
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington |
Bedford • Blair • Brearley • Cushing • Duane • Hopkinson • Innes • Jay • Law • Lowell • Pendleton • Rutledge • Sewall • Sullivan • Wilson | ||
| 1790 |
Bee • Drayton • Griffin • Iredell • Marchant • Morris • Paca • Sitgreaves • Stokes | ||
| 1791 - 92 | Chipman • Johnson • Lewis • Peters | ||
| 1793 - 95 | |||
| 1796 | |||
| 1797 | |||
Federal courts:
First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Hampshire • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Hampshire
State courts:
New Hampshire Supreme Court • New Hampshire Superior Courts • New Hampshire Circuit Courts • New Hampshire Probate Courts • New Hampshire District Court • New Hampshire Family Division
State resources:
Courts in New Hampshire • New Hampshire judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Hampshire
