Ether Shepley
Encyclopedia
Ether Shepley was an American politician
.
Shepley, a Democratic-Republican, served in the Maine State House
before becoming one of the state
's U.S. Senators
. Shepley resigned from the Senate after two years to become a Justice (and later Chief Justice) of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
.
Shepley was born in Groton, Massachusetts
. He attended Groton Academy
, (now Lawrence Academy at Groton
) and in 1814 graduated from Dartmouth College
in Hanover, New Hampshire
.
He later studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1814. Shepley began practicing law in Saco, Maine
(at the time, Maine was part of Massachusetts.) Shepley became a member of the Massachusetts General Court
in 1819; the following year, he was a delegate to the Maine constitutional convention, which drew up the constitution for Maine when it became a state
.
From 1821 until 1833, Shepley was the U.S. attorney
for the District of Maine. Later Shepley moved to Portland
. He was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat
to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1833, until his resignation on March 3, 1836.
During Shepley's time in Congress, he served as chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills (23rd and 24th Congresses).
On October 28, 1836, Shepley became a justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court; in 1848 he was elevated to Chief Justice. He served on the Court until October 22, 1855 (he was not a candidate for renomination). The following year he was appointed as the sole commissioner to revise the public laws of Maine. Later he resumed practicing law.
Sheply died in Portland and is interred in Evergreen Cemetery
in Portland, Maine
.
His son was George Foster Shepley
.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
.
Shepley, a Democratic-Republican, served in the Maine State House
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
before becoming one of the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
's U.S. Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Shepley resigned from the Senate after two years to become a Justice (and later Chief Justice) of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
.
Shepley was born in Groton, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He attended Groton Academy
Lawrence Academy at Groton
Lawrence Academy at Groton, , is a co-educational preparatory school located in Groton, Massachusetts, in the United States...
, (now Lawrence Academy at Groton
Lawrence Academy at Groton
Lawrence Academy at Groton, , is a co-educational preparatory school located in Groton, Massachusetts, in the United States...
) and in 1814 graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
.
He later studied law and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1814. Shepley began practicing law in Saco, Maine
Saco, Maine
Saco is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,482 at the 2010 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General Dynamics Armament Systems , a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics...
(at the time, Maine was part of Massachusetts.) Shepley became a member of the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
in 1819; the following year, he was a delegate to the Maine constitutional convention, which drew up the constitution for Maine when it became a state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
.
From 1821 until 1833, Shepley was the U.S. attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the District of Maine. Later Shepley moved to Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. He was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1833, until his resignation on March 3, 1836.
During Shepley's time in Congress, he served as chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills (23rd and 24th Congresses).
On October 28, 1836, Shepley became a justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court; in 1848 he was elevated to Chief Justice. He served on the Court until October 22, 1855 (he was not a candidate for renomination). The following year he was appointed as the sole commissioner to revise the public laws of Maine. Later he resumed practicing law.
Sheply died in Portland and is interred in Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery (Portland, Maine)
Evergreen Cemetery is a garden style cemetery in Portland, Maine, United States. With of land, it is the second largest cemetery in the state. It was established in 1855 and became the city's main cemetery after the Western Cemetery. As of March 2011, only of the were used for cemetery-related...
in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.
His son was George Foster Shepley
George Foster Shepley
George Shepley may refer to:* George F. Shepley , American Civil War general*George Foster Shepley , American architect...
.
Source
- "Shepley, Ether, (1789-1877)", Biographical Directory of the United States CongressBiographical Directory of the United States CongressThe Biographical Directory of the United States Congress is a biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress as well as its predecessor, the Continental Congress...
External links
- http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000334
- Cemetery Memorial by La-Cemeteries