Legislator; born in
Lebanon, Conn., April 27, 1768; graduated at Yale College in 1788; admitted to the bar in 1791; and began practice in
Westmoreland, N. H. He was
Attorney-General in 1802, and from 1813 to 1817 was
United States Senator.
For many years he was in the New Hampshire legislature, and was the author of
an able report on the
Virginia resolutions touching the
Missouri compromise (q. v.). In 1837 he removed to
Boston, where, until he was seventy years of age, he was extensively engaged in his profession; but he was little known, personally, out of
New England.
His mind was clear, logical, and extremely vigorous, the characteristics of which,
Webster said, were “real greatness, strength, and sagacity.”
He died in
Boston, Oct. 14, 1848.