Zephaniah Swift
Encyclopedia
Zephaniah Swift was an American
jurist, author, and politician from Windham, Connecticut
. He was born in Wareham, Massachusetts
and moved with his parents to Lebanon, Connecticut
. He completed preparatory studies and graduated from Yale College
in 1778. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Windham.
He served in the State's House of Representatives
serving as speaker in 1792, and clerk of the house for four sessions. Swift represented Connecticut
in the U.S. House
from 1793 until 1797 as a Pro-Administration
candidate to the Third Congress and as a Federalist
to the Fourth Congress (March 4, 1793-March 3, 1797).
He resumed the practice of law at Windham, and engaged in literary pursuits. He served as secretary of the French mission in 1800. Swift was a judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court
beginning in 1801 and served as the Chief Justice from 1806 to 1819. He was a member of the Hartford Convention
in 1814-15, and a member of the State's House of Representatives 1820-1822. He died in Warren, Ohio
with interment in Oakwood Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist, author, and politician from Windham, Connecticut
Windham, Connecticut
Windham is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the city of Willimantic and the villages of Windham Center, North Windham, and South Windham. The city of Willimantic was consolidated with the town in 1983...
. He was born in Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham is a town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 20,335, with an estimated 2008 population of 21,221....
and moved with his parents to Lebanon, Connecticut
Lebanon, Connecticut
Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
. He completed preparatory studies and graduated 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 1778. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Windham.
He served in the State's House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
serving as speaker in 1792, and clerk of the house for four sessions. Swift represented Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1793 until 1797 as a Pro-Administration
Pro-Administration Party (United States)
Pro-Administration "Party" is a term by historians to describe the supporters of the policies of George Washington's administration — especially Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton's financial policies — prior to the formation of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican Parties.Almost the entire...
candidate to the Third Congress and as a Federalist
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
to the Fourth Congress (March 4, 1793-March 3, 1797).
He resumed the practice of law at Windham, and engaged in literary pursuits. He served as secretary of the French mission in 1800. Swift was a judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court
Connecticut Supreme Court
The Connecticut Supreme Court, formerly known as the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, is the highest court in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven justices sit in Hartford, across the street from the Connecticut State Capitol...
beginning in 1801 and served as the Chief Justice from 1806 to 1819. He was a member of the Hartford Convention
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was an event spanning from December 15, 1814–January 4, 1815 in the United States during the War of 1812 in which New England's opposition to the war reached the point where secession from the United States was discussed...
in 1814-15, and a member of the State's House of Representatives 1820-1822. He died in Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
with interment in Oakwood Cemetery.