Elijah H. Mills
Encyclopedia
Elijah Hunt Mills was an American politician from Massachusetts
.
Mills was born in Chesterfield, Massachusetts
. He was educated by private tutors and graduated from Williams College
in 1797. Mills studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Northampton, Massachusetts
. He was the district attorney
for Hampshire County, Massachusetts
, and opened a law school in Northampton in 1823.
He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
(1811–1814). Mills was elected as a Federalist
to the United States House of Representatives
(March 4, 1815 - March 4, 1819). In 1819 he returned to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he became Speaker of the House in 1820. He was elected to the United States Senate
in 1820 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Prentiss Mellen
. Mills was reelected and served from June 12, 1820, to March 4, 1827. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1826. He retired from public life due to ill health.
Mills died in Northampton, and was interred in the Bridge Street Cemetery.
. One of their granddaughters, Anna Cabot Mills Davis, married U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
. One of their sons, poet George Cabot Lodge
, was the father of U.S. Senators Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
and John Davis Lodge
. Another of Mills' daughters, Sarah Hunt Mills, married Benjamin Peirce
, the father of Charles Sanders Peirce.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Mills was born in Chesterfield, Massachusetts
Chesterfield, Massachusetts
Chesterfield is a rural hill town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, 28 miles southeast of Pittsfield and 108 miles west of Boston. The population was 1,201 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Chesterfield was...
. He was educated by private tutors and graduated from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1797. Mills studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
. He was the district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
, and opened a law school in Northampton in 1823.
He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
(1811–1814). Mills was elected 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 United States House of Representatives
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...
(March 4, 1815 - March 4, 1819). In 1819 he returned to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he became Speaker of the House in 1820. He was elected to 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...
in 1820 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Prentiss Mellen
Prentiss Mellen
Prentiss Mellen was a Senator from Massachusetts; born in Sterling, Massachusetts to Rev. John and Rebecca Mellen...
. Mills was reelected and served from June 12, 1820, to March 4, 1827. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1826. He retired from public life due to ill health.
Mills died in Northampton, and was interred in the Bridge Street Cemetery.
Legacy
One of Mills' daughters, Harriette Blake Mills, married Admiral Charles Henry DavisCharles Henry Davis
Charles Henry Davis was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, serving primarily during the American Civil War, and with the United States Coast Survey.-Early life and career:...
. One of their granddaughters, Anna Cabot Mills Davis, married U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Henry Cabot Lodge
Henry Cabot "Slim" Lodge was an American Republican Senator and historian from Massachusetts. He had the role of Senate Majority leader. He is best known for his positions on Meek policy, especially his battle with President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 over the Treaty of Versailles...
. One of their sons, poet George Cabot Lodge
George Cabot Lodge
George Cabot "Bay" Lodge , was an American poet of the late 19th and early-20th century.-Early life:Lodge was born in in Boston. His father was Henry Cabot Lodge, a politician. His mother was Anna Cabot Mills Davis Lodge...
, was the father of U.S. Senators Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. was a Republican United States Senator from Massachusetts and a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, South Vietnam, West Germany, and the Holy See . He was the Republican nominee for Vice President in the 1960 Presidential election.-Early life:Lodge was born in Nahant,...
and John Davis Lodge
John Davis Lodge
John Davis Lodge , was an American politician, and 79th Governor of Connecticut from 1951 to 1955. He was also an actor and U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Argentina and Switzerland.-Early life:Lodge was born in Washington, D.C....
. Another of Mills' daughters, Sarah Hunt Mills, married Benjamin Peirce
Benjamin Peirce
Benjamin Peirce was an American mathematician who taught at Harvard University for approximately 50 years. He made contributions to celestial mechanics, statistics, number theory, algebra, and the philosophy of mathematics....
, the father of Charles Sanders Peirce.