Nathaniel Chipman
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Chipman was a United States Senator from Vermont
, and Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
.
Born in Salisbury, Connecticut
, Chipman was privately tutored. He received his degree from Yale College
in 1777 while in the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
. From 1777 to 1778 he served as a lieutenant in 2nd Connecticut Regiment
.
After his military service, Chipman studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1779, commencing practice in Tinmouth, Vermont
. He was a State's attorney in Montpelier, Vermont
from 1781 to 1785, and a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1784 and 1785, and was elected as judge of the Vermont Supreme Court
in 1786 and chosen chief justice in 1789. On March 4, 1791, Chipman was nominated by President George Washington
to be a federal judge on the newly established United States District Court for the District of Vermont
, created by 1 Stat. 73. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 4, 1791, and received his commission the same day. Chipman resigned on January 1, 1793, and was again elected chief justice of the State supreme court in 1796.
Chipman was elected as a Federalist
to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Isaac Tichenor
and served from October 17, 1797, until March 4, 1803; he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. From 1806 to 1811 he was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, was a member of the Vermont Council of Censors in 1813, and was again chief justice of Vermont from 1813 to 1815. He was a professor of law at Middlebury College
beginning in 1816.
He died in Tinmouth in 1843; interment was in the Tinmouth Cemetery.
Nathaniel Chipman was a brother of Daniel Chipman
and grandfather of John Logan Chipman
, U.S. Representatives from Vermont and Michigan
, respectively.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, and Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
.
Born in Salisbury, Connecticut
Salisbury, Connecticut
Salisbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is the northwest-most in the State of Connecticut. The MA-NY-CT Tri-State Marker is located just on the border of Salisbury...
, Chipman was privately tutored. He received his degree from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1777 while in 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...
during 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...
. From 1777 to 1778 he served as a lieutenant in 2nd Connecticut Regiment
2nd Connecticut Regiment
The 2nd Connecticut Regiment was authorized in the Continental Army on September 16, 1776. It was organized between 1 January - April 1777 at Danbury, Connecticut of eight companies from the counties of Fairfield, Windham, and Hartford in the state of Connecticut and assigned on 3 April 1777 to...
.
After his military service, Chipman studied law and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1779, commencing practice in Tinmouth, Vermont
Tinmouth, Vermont
Tinmouth is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 613 at the 2010 census.-History:Tinmouth was established in 1761 in a region that came to be known as the New Hampshire Grants. At the first U.S. census, the town had a population of 935...
. He was a State's attorney in Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
from 1781 to 1785, and a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1784 and 1785, and was elected as judge of the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
in 1786 and chosen chief justice in 1789. On March 4, 1791, Chipman was nominated 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...
to be a federal judge on the newly established United States District Court for the District of Vermont
United States District Court for the District of Vermont
The United States District Court for the District of Vermont is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the federal district of Vermont. The court has locations in Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland. The Court was created under the Judiciary Act of 1791 under the jurisdiction of the...
, created by 1 Stat. 73. He 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 March 4, 1791, and received his commission the same day. Chipman resigned on January 1, 1793, and was again elected chief justice of the State supreme court in 1796.
Chipman was elected as a Federalist
Federalist
The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of federalism or the type of government called a federation...
to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Isaac Tichenor
Isaac Tichenor
Isaac Tichenor was the third and fifth Governor of Vermont and also served as a jurist and a United States Senator.Tichenor was born in Newark, New Jersey...
and served from October 17, 1797, until March 4, 1803; he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. From 1806 to 1811 he was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, was a member of the Vermont Council of Censors in 1813, and was again chief justice of Vermont from 1813 to 1815. He was a professor of law at Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
beginning in 1816.
He died in Tinmouth in 1843; interment was in the Tinmouth Cemetery.
Nathaniel Chipman was a brother of Daniel Chipman
Daniel Chipman
Daniel Chipman was a United States Representative from Vermont. He was born in Salisbury, Connecticut. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1788. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and practiced in Rutland, Vermont 1790–1794. In addition, he was a member of the state constitutional...
and grandfather of John Logan Chipman
John Logan Chipman
John Logan Chipman was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, serving as United States Representative to Congress....
, U.S. Representatives from Vermont and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, respectively.