John Laurance
Encyclopedia
John Laurance was an American
lawyer and politician from New York
.
where he read law and entered private practice in 1772. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
, he was a warm adherent of the revolutionaries. He received an officer's commission in the First New York regiment of the Continental Army
in 1775, serving under his father-in-law Gen. Alexander MacDougall. He was Judge Advocate General
from 1777 to 1782. He was a member of the board that convicted Maj. John André
of spying and sentenced André to be executed by hanging.
He was a member from Westchester County
of the New York State Assembly
in 1782-83, and from New York County in 1784-85. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress
from 1785 to 1787. He was an ardent supporter of the constitution proposed by the Federalists, and lost his seat in 1788 to an anti-Federalist. He was a member of the New York State Senate
(Southern District) from 1788 to 1790, but vacated his seat after the Legislature enacted in January 1790 a law that made it impossible to be a member of Congress and the State Legislature at the same time.
In March 1789
, Laurance was elected as a Federalist
to the 1st United States Congress
, and re-elected in April 1790
to the 2nd United States Congress
, serving from 1789 to March 3, 1793.
Laurance was nominated by George Washington
to the federal bench on May 5, 1794, to the seat vacated by James Duane
on the United States District Court for the District of New York. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 6, and received his commission on the same day. He resigned from the bench on November 8, 1796, after his election
as U.S. Senator from New York. He took his seat on December 8, 1796, but resigned from the Senate in August 1800.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He emigrated to the United States in 1767 and settled in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he read law and entered private practice in 1772. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, he was a warm adherent of the revolutionaries. He received an officer's commission in the First New York regiment of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
in 1775, serving under his father-in-law Gen. Alexander MacDougall. He was Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army
The Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army is composed of Army officers who are also lawyers and who provide legal services to the Army at all levels of command. The Judge Advocate General's Legal Service includes judge advocates, warrant officers, paralegal noncommissioned...
from 1777 to 1782. He was a member of the board that convicted Maj. John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
of spying and sentenced André to be executed by hanging.
He was a member from Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1782-83, and from New York County in 1784-85. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
from 1785 to 1787. He was an ardent supporter of the constitution proposed by the Federalists, and lost his seat in 1788 to an anti-Federalist. He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
(Southern District) from 1788 to 1790, but vacated his seat after the Legislature enacted in January 1790 a law that made it impossible to be a member of Congress and the State Legislature at the same time.
In March 1789
United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 1789
The 1789 United States House of Representatives elections in New York were held on March 3 and 4, 1789, to elect 6 U.S. Representatives to represent the State of New York in the 1st United States Congress.-Background:...
, Laurance was elected as a Federalist
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
to the 1st United States Congress
1st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress, five House seats were added for North Carolina and one House seat was added for Rhode Island when they ratified the Constitution.-Senate:* President: John Adams * President pro tempore: John Langdon...
, and re-elected in April 1790
United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 1790
The 1790 United States House of Representatives elections in New York were held from April 27 to 29, 1790, to elect six U.S. Representatives to represent the State of New York in the United States House of Representatives.-Background:The first U.S...
to the 2nd United States Congress
2nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress, two new House seats were added for each of the new states of Vermont and Kentucky. -Leadership:-Senate:*President: John Adams *President pro tempore:** Richard Henry Lee...
, serving from 1789 to March 3, 1793.
Laurance was nominated by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
to the federal bench on May 5, 1794, to the seat vacated by James Duane
James Duane
James Duane was an American lawyer, jurist, and Revolutionary leader from New York. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, New York state senator, Mayor of New York, and a U.S...
on the United States District Court for the District of New York. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 6, and received his commission on the same day. He resigned from the bench on November 8, 1796, after his election
United States Senate special election in New York, 1796
The 1796 United States Senate special election in New York was held on November 9, 1796, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:...
as U.S. Senator from New York. He took his seat on December 8, 1796, but resigned from the Senate in August 1800.