Peter Oliver (loyalist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Oliver was Chief Justice
of the Superior Court of the Colony of Massachusetts from 1772–1775. He was a loyalist
during the American Revolution
and its lead-up, and left Massachusetts in 1776, settling in England.
on March 26, 1713, to well known parents. He graduated from Harvard University
in 1730. He co-ran a Boston importing business with his brother Andrew Oliver for several years, although his interests were in science and literature. Oliver bought an iron works in Middleborough
, Massachusetts
in 1744. This company made household items made of cast-iron
as well as cannonballs
. With this company, Peter Oliver accumulated enough money to build Oliver Hall. Oliver Hall was Peter Oliver's masion and was one of the most elegant residences in all of colonial New England
.
in 1756. Oliver supported the idea that colonists should be taxed and more effort should be put into preventing smuggling to pay for the French and Indian War
.
Oliver was one of three judges during the trials for the Boston Massacre
. Thomas Hutchinson was pleased with the work that Peter Oliver did, and made him chief justice of the Superior Court in 1772.
Oliver complained often about how low his salary was as chief justice. The British proposed a plan to raise the justice's salary, paid for by the crown. All of the justices declined this offer except for Oliver. Oliver was in turn impeached
, in 1774, because of the public outrage against him.
used threats and violence as a tool to manipulate the actions of Peter Oliver and his brother, Andrew Oliver. Peter Oliver was forced to do things such as refusing to sit in court. Oliver was a strong supporter of the Stamp Act
, which caused him to be harassed even further.
and lived there until his death on October 12, 1791.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Superior Court of the Colony of Massachusetts from 1772–1775. He was a loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and its lead-up, and left Massachusetts in 1776, settling in England.
Early life
Peter Oliver was born in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on March 26, 1713, to well known parents. He graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1730. He co-ran a Boston importing business with his brother Andrew Oliver for several years, although his interests were in science and literature. Oliver bought an iron works in Middleborough
Middleborough, Massachusetts
Middleborough is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,117 as of 2008.For geographic and demographic information on the village of Middleborough Center, please see the article Middleborough Center, Massachusetts....
, 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...
in 1744. This company made household items made of cast-iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
as well as cannonballs
Cannonball
A cannonball is round shot ammunition for a cannon.By analogy, cannonball is also the name or nickname of:* A diving technique in swimming; unlike competitive diving techniques, however, its purpose is to maximize, rather than minimize, splash upon water entry.People* Cannonball Adderley, jazz alto...
. With this company, Peter Oliver accumulated enough money to build Oliver Hall. Oliver Hall was Peter Oliver's masion and was one of the most elegant residences in all of colonial New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Court career
Oliver was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1744. He was made the Court of Common Pleas in 1747. He was named a justice of the Massachusetts Superior CourtSuperior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
in 1756. Oliver supported the idea that colonists should be taxed and more effort should be put into preventing smuggling to pay for the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
.
Oliver was one of three judges during the trials for the Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by the British, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five civilian men. British troops had been stationed in Boston, capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, since 1768 in order to protect and support...
. Thomas Hutchinson was pleased with the work that Peter Oliver did, and made him chief justice of the Superior Court in 1772.
Oliver complained often about how low his salary was as chief justice. The British proposed a plan to raise the justice's salary, paid for by the crown. All of the justices declined this offer except for Oliver. Oliver was in turn impeached
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
, in 1774, because of the public outrage against him.
Colonial uprising
Originally starting in 1765, the Sons of LibertySons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group made up of American patriots that originated in the pre-independence North American British colonies. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations by the British government after 1766...
used threats and violence as a tool to manipulate the actions of Peter Oliver and his brother, Andrew Oliver. Peter Oliver was forced to do things such as refusing to sit in court. Oliver was a strong supporter of the Stamp Act
Stamp Act 1765
The Stamp Act 1765 was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament specifically on the colonies of British America. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp...
, which caused him to be harassed even further.
Later life
Oliver departed from the colonies when the British evacuated their troops and any loyalists from Boston in 1776. Oliver sailed to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and lived there until his death on October 12, 1791.