Samuel Hitchcock
Encyclopedia
Samuel Hitchcock was an attorney and judge in Vermont
.
Hitchcock was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts
and attended Harvard College
in 1777. He engaged in private practice in Burlington, Vermont, from 1786-87, and was then the state's attorney for Chittenden County, Vermont
until 1790, when he became the first Attorney General of Vermont until 1793. He served simultaneously, from 1789-93, as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
.
He received a recess appointment
from President George Washington
on September 3, 1793 to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
vacated by Nathaniel Chipman
. Hitchcock was formally nominated on December 27, 1793, confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 30, 1793, and received his commission on January 28, 1794. On February 18, 1801, Hitchcock was nominated by President John Adams
to a seat on the newly created United States circuit court
for the Second Circuit, created by 2 Stat. 89, also known as the Midnight Judges Act. Hitchcock was confirmed to this seat by the Senate on February 20, 1801, and received the same day. However, his service terminated on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the court with the repeal of the act that created it. Hitchcock thereafter returned to private practice in Burlington, Vermont
and Vergennes, Vermont
until his death in Burlington.
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...
.
Hitchcock was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts
Brimfield, Massachusetts
Brimfield is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,609 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and attended Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1777. He engaged in private practice in Burlington, Vermont, from 1786-87, and was then the state's attorney for Chittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...
until 1790, when he became the first Attorney General of Vermont until 1793. He served simultaneously, from 1789-93, as 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...
.
He received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from 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...
on September 3, 1793 to a seat on the 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...
vacated by Nathaniel Chipman
Nathaniel Chipman
Nathaniel Chipman was a United States Senator from Vermont, and Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court....
. Hitchcock was formally nominated on December 27, 1793, 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 30, 1793, and received his commission on January 28, 1794. On February 18, 1801, Hitchcock was nominated by 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...
to a seat on the newly created United States 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...
for the Second Circuit, created by 2 Stat. 89, also known as the Midnight Judges Act. Hitchcock was confirmed to this seat by the Senate on February 20, 1801, and received the same day. However, his service terminated on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the court with the repeal of the act that created it. Hitchcock thereafter returned to private practice in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
and Vergennes, Vermont
Vergennes, Vermont
Vergennes is a city located in the northwest quadrant of Addison County, Vermont, in the United States. Bordered by the towns of Ferrisburgh, Panton and Waltham, as of the 2000 census the city population was 2,741. It is the smallest of Vermont's nine cities in terms of population...
until his death in Burlington.