James Witherell

James Witherell

James Witherell (June 16, 1759 - January 9, 1838) was a United States Representative from Vermont. He was born in Mansfield, Massachusetts. After completing preparatory studies, he served in the Continental Army 1775-1783 during the American Revolutionary War. He entered service as a private and rose to the rank of Adjutant in the Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment. He was severely wounded in the Battle of White Plains in 1776.

After the war, Witherell studied medicine and was licensed to practice in 1788. He moved to Hampton, Vermont in 1788 and to Fair Haven in 1789 and continued the practice of his profession.

Witherell was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives 1798-1802. He was associate county judge 1801-1803; judge of Rutland County 1803-1806; and an executive councilor 1802-1806. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Tenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1807 to May 1, 1808 when he resigned to accept an appointment by President Thomas Jefferson as one of the Judges of the Supreme Court for the Territory of Michigan. During the War of 1812, he was in command of the troops at Detroit in the absence of General William Hull, and was taken prisoner when the latter surrendered. He lived in Fair Haven, Vermont while on parole from the British and later was exchanged and returned to his duties in Detroit.

After serving as a Supreme Court justice for 20 years, Witherell resigned in 1828 to accept an appointment by President John Quincy Adams to become Secretary of the Territory. He held the position until May 1830.

Witherell was married on November 11, 1790 to Amy Hawkins and the couple had six children. His son, Benjamin F. H. Witherell, was also a Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court, and his grandson was United States Senator from Michigan, Thomas W. Palmer.

He died in his Detroit home in 1838 and was buried in the Russell Street Cemetery. Later, he was reburied in Elmwood Cemetery.

References

*CongBio|W000657
* [http://www.micourthistory.org/resources/jwitherell.php JAMES WITHERELL, 3rd Territorial Justice]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/wisner-witherow.html#R9M0JHYQQ The Political Graveyard]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • James Witherell — (* 16. Juni 1759 in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts; † 9. Januar 1838 in Detroit, Michigan) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1807 und 1808 vertrat er den ersten Wahlbezirk des Bundesstaates Vermont im …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Witherell — is a surname, and may refer to:* Benjamin F. H. Witherell (1797 1867) American jurist in Michigan * Elizabeth Witherell, director of the The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau project * James Witherell (1759 1838), American politician and jurist in… …   Wikipedia

  • Witherell — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: James Witherell (1759–1838), US amerikanischer Politiker Michael Witherell (* 1950), US amerikanischer Physiker Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mi …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • James Meacham — (* 16. August 1810 in Rutland, Rutland County, Vermont; † 23. August 1856 ebenda) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1849 und 1853 vertrat er den dritten und von 1853 bis 1856 den ersten Wahlbezirk des Bundesstaa …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • James Elliot (Vermont) — James Elliot (* 18. August 1775 in Gloucester, Massachusetts; † 10. November 1839 in Newfane, Vermont) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1803 und 1809 vertrat er den zweiten Wahlbezirk des Bundesstaates Vermont im US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • James Manning Tyler — (* 27. April 1835 in Wilmington, Windham County, Vermont; † 13. Oktober 1926 in Brattleboro, Vermont) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1879 und 1883 vertrat er den zweiten Wahlbezirk des Bundesstaates Vermont im US Repräsentantenhaus …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • James Fisk (Senator) — James Fisk James Fisk (* 4. Oktober 1763 in Greenwich, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; † 17. November 1844 in Swanton, Vermont) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker, der den Bundesstaat Vermont in beiden Kammern des US Kongresses vertrat …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Benjamin F. H. Witherell — Benjamin Franklin Hawkins Witherell (August 4, 1797 June 26, 1867) was a jurist in the U.S. state of Michigan. He served as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court in 1857. Witherell was born in Fair Haven, Vermont, the second son and fifth of… …   Wikipedia

  • Thomas W. Palmer — Infobox Senator name=Thomas Witherell Palmer jr/sr=United States Senator state=Michigan party=Republican term=March 4, 1883 ndash; March 3, 1889 preceded=Thomas W. Ferry succeeded=James McMillan date of birth=January 25, 1830 place of… …   Wikipedia

  • Michigan Territory — Territory of Michigan Organized incorporated territory of the United States …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”