Pierpont Edwards (April 8, 1750 – April 5, 1826) was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Pierpont Edwards | |
|---|---|
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut | |
| In office February 24, 1806 – April 5, 1826 | |
| Appointed by | Thomas Jefferson |
| Preceded by | Richard Law |
| Succeeded by | William Bristol |
| Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's at-large district | |
| Declined to serve | |
| Preceded by | Jeremiah Wadsworth |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah Wadsworth |
| United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut | |
| In office 1789–1806 | |
| President | George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Hezekiah Huntington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 8, 1750 |
| Died | April 5, 1826 (aged 75) Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Resting place | Grove Street Cemetery |
| Party | Pro-Administration |
| Spouse | Frances Ogden |
| Children | 2, including Henry |
| Relatives | Jonathan Edwards (father) |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) |
Education and career
editBorn on April 8, 1750, in Northampton, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America,[1] Edwards graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1768.[1] He entered private practice in New Haven, Connecticut Colony, British America (State of Connecticut, United States from July 4, 1776) starting in 1771.[1] He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.[1] He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1777, from 1784 to 1785, and from 1787 to 1790,[1] serving as Speaker during his last two years.[2] He was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation (Continental Congress) from 1787 to 1788.[1] He was a member of the Connecticut convention to ratify the United States Constitution in 1788.[2] He resumed private practice in New Haven from 1790 to 1806.[1]
Federal judicial service
editEdwards was nominated by President Thomas Jefferson on February 21, 1806, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut vacated by Judge Richard Law.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 24, 1806, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on April 5, 1826, due to his death in Bridgeport, Connecticut.[1] He was interred at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven.[2]
Other service
editEdwards was a member of the constitutional convention which framed Connecticut's constitution of 1818.[2]
Honor
editPierpont Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio is named for him.[3]
Edwards was a Freemason in Hiram Lodge no. 1 AF&AM in New Haven CT. He was the first Grand Master of Masons in Connecticut and the Grand Lodge of Connecticut honors distinguished members with a medal in his name.[4]
Family
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Edwards was the youngest child of theologian Jonathan Edwards. His son, Henry W. Edwards, was Governor of Connecticut and his daughter, Henrietta Frances Edwards, was married to inventor Eli Whitney. His nephew, who was only five years younger than himself, was Vice President Aaron Burr.
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pierpont Edwards at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- 1 2 3 4 United States Congress. "Pierpont Edwards (id: E000079)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ↑ Ashtabula County, OhioAshtabula County, 2007. Accessed 2007-05-28. Archived 2007-11-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Pierpont Edwards Medal – Grand Lodge of Connecticut".
Sources
edit- Pierpont Edwards at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Pierpont Edwards". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Pierpont Edwards (id: E000079)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Pierpont Edwards at Find a Grave