Samuel Prentiss
Encyclopedia
Samuel Prentiss was a United States Senator from Vermont
and later a United States federal judge
.
Born in Stonington, Connecticut
, he moved to Northfield, Massachusetts
in 1786; he completed preparatory studies and was instructed in the classics
by a private tutor. He studied law in Northfield and in Brattleboro, Vermont
; he was admitted to the bar
in 1802 and practiced in Montpelier
from 1803 to 1822.
Prentiss was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1824-1825 and was an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
; he was elected chief justice in 1829. In 1831, Prentiss was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the U.S. Senate; he was reelected as a Whig
in 1837 and served from March 4, 1831, to April 11, 1842, when he resigned to accept a judicial assignment. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office (Twenty-seventh Congress).
Samuel Prentiss was the originator and successful advocate of the law to suppress dueling in the District of Columbia; on April 8, 1842, he was nominated by President John Tyler
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
vacated by Elijah Paine
. Prentiss was confirmed by the United States Senate
on April 8, 1842, and received his commission the same day. He served on the court until his death in Montpelier, and his remains were interred in Green Mount Cemetery.
John Holmes Prentiss
, Samuel's brother, was a United States Representative from New York.
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 later 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....
.
Born in Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
, he moved to Northfield, Massachusetts
Northfield, Massachusetts
Northfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,951 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1786; he completed preparatory studies and was instructed in the classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
by a private tutor. He studied law in Northfield and in Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
; he 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 1802 and practiced in Montpelier
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 1803 to 1822.
Prentiss was 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 1824-1825 and was an associate 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...
; he was elected chief justice in 1829. In 1831, Prentiss was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the U.S. Senate; he was reelected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
in 1837 and served from March 4, 1831, to April 11, 1842, when he resigned to accept a judicial assignment. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office (Twenty-seventh Congress).
Samuel Prentiss was the originator and successful advocate of the law to suppress dueling in the District of Columbia; on April 8, 1842, he was nominated by President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
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 Elijah Paine
Elijah Paine
Elijah Paine was a United States Senator from Vermont, serving as a Federalist from 1795 to 1801, and thereafter a long-serving United States federal judge....
. Prentiss 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 April 8, 1842, and received his commission the same day. He served on the court until his death in Montpelier, and his remains were interred in Green Mount Cemetery.
John Holmes Prentiss
John Holmes Prentiss
John Holmes Prentiss was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he attended local and private schools. He was foreman of the New York Evening Post in 1808 and moved to Cooperstown, New York in October 1808; he established the Freeman's Journal in the same...
, Samuel's brother, was a United States Representative from New York.
External links
- Samuel Prentiss at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...