Jurist; born in
Salisbury, Mass., Jan. 17, 1800; graduated at Harvard University in 1817; became a distinguished lawyer, in which profession he began practice at
Newburyport, Mass. He served in the State legislature, and was in Congress from 1835 to 1843, as a Whig Representative, when, with
Mr. Tyler, he became an active member of the Democratic party.
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President Tyler sent him as commissioner to
China, where, in 1844, he negotiated an important treaty.
He advocated the
policy of war with
Mexico, and led a regiment to the field.
In 1853
President Pierce called
Mr. Cushing to his cabinet as
Attorney-General.
In 1860 he was president of the Democratic convention at
Charleston.
In 1866 he was one of three commissioners appointed to codify the laws of the
United States; in 1871 was one of the counsel on the part of the
United States before the
Geneva Arbitration Tribunal; and in 1873-77 was minister to
Spain.
He died in
Newburyport, Mass., Jan. 2, 1879.
