James Elliot (politician)

James Elliot (born August 18, 1775 in Gloucester , Province of Massachusetts Bay , † November 10, 1839 in Newfane , Vermont ) was an American politician . Between 1803 and 1809 he represented the second constituency of the state of Vermont in the US House of Representatives .

Career

The young James Elliot initially worked on a farm and in a shop. In 1790 he moved to Guilford , Vermont. Three years later he took part in an Indian war in Ohio . In 1798 he published some literary writings and poems. Between 1801 and 1803 Elliot was employed in the administration of the Vermont House of Representatives . After studying law and being admitted to the bar, he began practicing his new profession in Brattleboro in 1803 . Politically, he joined the Federalist Party founded by Alexander Hamilton .

In 1802 he was elected as their candidate for the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC . There he took over from Lewis R. Morris on March 4, 1803 . After two re-elections in 1804 and 1806, Elliot was able to complete three terms in Congress until March 3, 1809 . After his tenure in Congress was over, Elliot published a daily newspaper in Philadelphia . During the British-American War of 1812 he was a captain in the American armed forces for a short time. He then worked again as a lawyer in Brattleboro. Between 1817 and 1835 he was employed by the County Administration and Probate Court in Windham County . From 1818 to 1819 Elliot was also a member of the House of Representatives from Vermont; he exercised this mandate again between 1837 and 1838. From 1837 he was district attorney in Windham County. James Elliot died in Newfane in November 1839, where he had meanwhile moved.

Web links

• James Elliot in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• James Elliot in the database of Find a Grave (English)