James Fisk (politician)

James Fisk
Member of the
United States House of Representatives
from Vermont's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1809
Preceded by William Chamberlain
Succeeded by William Chamberlain
Member of the
United States House of Representatives
from Vermont's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1815
Preceded by William Chamberlain
Succeeded by Chauncey Langdon
United States Senator
from Vermont
In office
November 4, 1817 – January 8, 1818
Preceded by Dudley Chase
Succeeded by William A. Palmer
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1800–1805
1809–1810
1815
Personal details
Born (1763-10-04)October 4, 1763
Greenwich, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died November 17, 1844(1844-11-17) (aged 81)
Swanton, Vermont, U.S.
Political party Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s) Priscilla West
Profession Politician, Minister, Lawyer, Judge
Religion Universalist

James Fisk (October 4, 1763 – November 17, 1844) was an American politician from Vermont. He served in the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

Biography

Fisk was born in Greenwich, Massachusetts and was self-educated.[1] He served in the Revolutionary War from 1779 to 1782. He was a member of the Massachusetts General Court in 1785.[2] Fisk was ordained as a Universalist minister, and preached occasionally. He married Priscilla West.[3]

Fisk moved to Barre, Vermont in 1798 where he worked as a farmer and minister. He studied law and was admitted to the bar; he began the practice of law in Barre.[4]

Fisk entered politics in Vermont as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, serving from 1800 to 1805, 1809 to 1810 and in 1815.[5] He was judge of the Orange County, Vermont Court from 1802 to 1809 and in 1816.[6] He was selected as the member from Orange County to locate the capital in 1803. Fisk served as chairman of the committee that endeavored to get a settlement of the northern boundary with Canada in 1804.

In 1804 Fisk was elected as a Democratic-Republican candidate to the United States House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1805 until March 3, 1809.[7] He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1808. In 1811 he was elected again to the House, and served from March 4, 1811 until March 3, 1815.[8] He was chairman of the Committee on Elections.

Fisk was appointed United States Judge for the Territory of Indiana in 1812 by President James Madison,[9] but declined the appointment. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in1814, and served as judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont from 1815 until 1816.[10]

He was elected as a Democratic-Republican candidate to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dudley Chase. Fisk served in the Senate from November 4, 1817 until he resigned on January 8, 1818[11][12] to serve as collector of customs for the district of Vermont from 1818 until 1826.[13] He moved to Swanton, Vermont in 1819.

Death

Fisk died on November 17, 1844 in Swanton. He is interred at the Church Street Cemetery in Swanton.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "James Fisk (1763-1844)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ Journal of the Senate, Volume 130. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1909. p. 170.
  3. ↑ "James Fisk". Find A Grave. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ "FISK, James, (1763 - 1844)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  5. ↑ Crockett, Walter Hill. Vermont: the Green mountain state, Volume 2. 1921: The Century history company, inc. p. 593.
  6. ↑ Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889. The Syracuse journal company, printers,. 1889. p. 59.
  7. ↑ "Sen. James Fisk". govtrack.us. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Sen. James Fisk". govtrack.us. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Federal Judges for the Indiana Territory" (PDF). Indiana.edu. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  10. ↑ Thompson, Zadock (1842). History Of Vermont, Natural, Civil And Statistical, In Three Parts, With A Few Map Of The State, And 200 Engravings. p. 124.
  11. ↑ Dodge, Andrew R. (2005). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States, from the First Through the One Hundred Eighth Congresses, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 2005. Government Printing Office. p. 85.
  12. ↑ "Sen. James Fisk". govtrack.us. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ Lanman, Charles Lanman (1887). Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States. J.M. Morrison,. p. 171.
  14. ↑ "James Fisk". Find A Grave. Retrieved November 15, 2012.

Further reading

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United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
William Chamberlain		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 3rd congressional district
1805 - 1809 		Succeeded by
William Chamberlain
Preceded by
William Chamberlain		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 3rd congressional district
1811 - 1815 		Succeeded by
Chauncey Langdon
United States Senate
Preceded by
Dudley Chase		 U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Vermont
1817—1818
Served alongside: Isaac Tichenor		 Succeeded by
William A. Palmer
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