John Sitgreaves
Encyclopedia
John Sitgreaves was a British-born American
lawyer and jurist from New Bern, North Carolina
. He was a delegate for North Carolina
to the Continental Congress
in 1785. He was Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
in 1787-88, and a United States federal judge
for many years thereafter.
Sitgreaves attended Eton College
in England, and read law to enter the bar in North Carolina
. He was in private practice in New Bern before joining the Continental Army
, in which he was a Lieutenant. He was a clerk to the North Carolina State Senate from 1777 to 1779, a member of the Board of Auditors for Public and Private Accounts in 1779, and a commissioner at for Sale of Confiscated Properties in 1780. He was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons in 1784, serving as a Delegate from North Carolina to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1785. He was a Special U.S. judge in admiralty at Williamsburg, Virginia in 1785, returning to the North Carolina House of Commons from 1786 to 1788. He served as a member of the Convention to ratify the United States Constitution, and was then appointed by President George Washington
as the first United States Attorney
for the District of North Carolina from 1789 to 1790.
On December 17, 1790, Washington nominated Sitgreaves to replace the late John Stokes
as the United States district court
judge for the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina. Sitgreaves was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 20, 1790, and received his commission the same day. The federal court serving the state of North Carolina was thereafter subdivided and reconstituted several times, being divided between Edenton, New Bern and Wilmington Districts on June 9, 1794, restored to a single court on March 3, 1797, and divided again into Albemarle, Cape Fear and Pamptico Districts on February 13, 1801. However, Sitgreaves remained the sole federal judge serving the state, and the individual courts into which it was subdivided, throughout this period. President John Adams
nominated Sitgreaves to the newly created Fifth Circuit Court
in 1801, but Sitgreaves declined the appointment, despite the Senate voting to confirm him, should he accept it. Sitgreaves instead served as the federal district court judge for North Carolina until his death, in Halifax, North Carolina
, in 1802.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and jurist from New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
. He was a delegate for North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
to the Continental Congress
Congress of the Confederation
The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was the governing body of the United States of America that existed from March 1, 1781, to March 4, 1789. It comprised delegates appointed by the legislatures of the states. It was the immediate successor to the Second...
in 1785. He was Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
in 1787-88, and a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
for many years thereafter.
Sitgreaves attended Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in England, and read law to enter the bar in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He was in private practice in New Bern before joining 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 which he was a Lieutenant. He was a clerk to the North Carolina State Senate from 1777 to 1779, a member of the Board of Auditors for Public and Private Accounts in 1779, and a commissioner at for Sale of Confiscated Properties in 1780. He was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons in 1784, serving as a Delegate from North Carolina to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1785. He was a Special U.S. judge in admiralty at Williamsburg, Virginia in 1785, returning to the North Carolina House of Commons from 1786 to 1788. He served as a member of the Convention to ratify the United States Constitution, and was then appointed by President 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...
as the first United States 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 North Carolina from 1789 to 1790.
On December 17, 1790, Washington nominated Sitgreaves to replace the late John Stokes
John Stokes (North Carolina)
John Stokes was a North Carolina attorney, politician, and judge.Stokes was born in Virginia, and became an attorney with a private practice in Salisbury, North Carolina. A Continental Army Captain from 1778 to 1783, Stokes was severely wounded when British Colonel Banastre Tarleton's cavalry...
as the United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
judge for the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina. Sitgreaves was confirmed by the United States Senate
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...
on December 20, 1790, and received his commission the same day. The federal court serving the state of North Carolina was thereafter subdivided and reconstituted several times, being divided between Edenton, New Bern and Wilmington Districts on June 9, 1794, restored to a single court on March 3, 1797, and divided again into Albemarle, Cape Fear and Pamptico Districts on February 13, 1801. However, Sitgreaves remained the sole federal judge serving the state, and the individual courts into which it was subdivided, throughout this period. President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
nominated Sitgreaves to the newly created Fifth Circuit Court
United States circuit court
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate...
in 1801, but Sitgreaves declined the appointment, despite the Senate voting to confirm him, should he accept it. Sitgreaves instead served as the federal district court judge for North Carolina until his death, in Halifax, North Carolina
Halifax, North Carolina
Halifax is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 344 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Halifax County...
, in 1802.