John Boyle (congressman)
Encyclopedia
John Boyle was a United States federal judge
and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Born in Botetourt County, Virginia, near what is now Castlewood
, Boyle moved with his father to Whitley's Station, Kentucky (a settler's fort near present-day Crab Orchard
) in 1779. Boyle was educated by private tutors and in private schools. He read law in 1797 and began private practice in Lancaster, Kentucky
from 1797 to 1802. He was also the deputy counselor at law for the Court of Quarter Sessions of Kentucky in 1797, and a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
in 1800.
Boyle was elected as a Democratic-Republican
to the Eighth
, Ninth
, and Tenth U.S. Congresses
(March 4, 1803 - March 3, 1809). He was one of the managers appointed by the House in January 1804 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against John Pickering
, and, in December of the same year, against Samuel Chase
. He was chairman of the Committee on Public Land Claims in the Ninth and Tenth Congresses. Boyle was appointed Governor of the Illinois Territory
in 1809, but declined the office.
Boyle served as a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
from April 1809 to April 1810, serving as chief justice from April 1810 to November 8, 1826. His tenure spanned the Old Court-New Court controversy
. He resigned to accept a recess appointment
from President John Quincy Adams
on October 20, 1826, to the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky, filling the seat vacated by the elevation of Robert Trimble
to the Supreme Court of the United States
. Boyle was officially nominated on December 13, 1826, was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 12, 1827, and received his commission the same day. He served until his death near Danville
, Kentucky in 1834 or 1835. He is buried in Bellevue Cemetery there, and Boyle County, Kentucky
was later named after him.
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....
and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Born in Botetourt County, Virginia, near what is now Castlewood
Castlewood, Virginia
Castlewood is a census-designated place in Russell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,036 at the 2000 census. Castlewood was an incorporated town from 1991 to 1997, when it reverted to unincorporated status.-Geography:...
, Boyle moved with his father to Whitley's Station, Kentucky (a settler's fort near present-day Crab Orchard
Crab Orchard, Kentucky
Crab Orchard is a city in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 842 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
) in 1779. Boyle was educated by private tutors and in private schools. He read law in 1797 and began private practice in Lancaster, Kentucky
Lancaster, Kentucky
Lancaster is a city in Garrard County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,734. It is the county seat of Garrard County. Located south of Lexington, it is the site of the Kennedy House, said to have been used in Uncle Tom's Cabin. The controversial...
from 1797 to 1802. He was also the deputy counselor at law for the Court of Quarter Sessions of Kentucky in 1797, and a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
in 1800.
Boyle was elected as a Democratic-Republican
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
to the Eighth
8th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: Aaron Burr * President pro tempore: John Brown , October 17, 1803 – February 26, 1804** Jesse Franklin , March 10, 1804 – November 4, 1804** Joseph Anderson , January 15, 1805 – December 1, 1805- House of Representatives :...
, Ninth
9th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: George Clinton * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Nathaniel Macon -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
, and Tenth U.S. Congresses
10th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :- Senate :*President: George Clinton *President pro tempore: Samuel Smith , elected April 16, 1808** Stephen R. Bradley , elected December 28, 1808** John Milledge , elected January 30, 1809...
(March 4, 1803 - March 3, 1809). He was one of the managers appointed by the House in January 1804 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against John Pickering
John Pickering (judge)
John Pickering served as Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court of Judicature and as Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire...
, and, in December of the same year, against Samuel Chase
Samuel Chase
Samuel Chase was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and earlier was a signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Maryland. Early in life, Chase was a "firebrand" states-righter and revolutionary...
. He was chairman of the Committee on Public Land Claims in the Ninth and Tenth Congresses. Boyle was appointed Governor of the Illinois Territory
Illinois Territory
The Territory of Illinois was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 1, 1809, until December 3, 1818, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois. The area was earlier known as "Illinois Country" while under...
in 1809, but declined the office.
Boyle served as a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the lower of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky....
from April 1809 to April 1810, serving as chief justice from April 1810 to November 8, 1826. His tenure spanned the Old Court-New Court controversy
Old Court-New Court controversy
The Old Court – New Court controversy was a 19th century political controversy in the U.S. state of Kentucky in which the Kentucky General Assembly abolished the Kentucky Court of Appeals and replaced it with a new court...
. He resigned to accept a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
on October 20, 1826, to the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky, filling the seat vacated by the elevation of Robert Trimble
Robert Trimble
Robert Trimble was an attorney, judge, and a justice of the United States Supreme Court.-Early life and family:...
to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. Boyle was officially nominated on December 13, 1826, 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 February 12, 1827, and received his commission the same day. He served until his death near Danville
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
, Kentucky in 1834 or 1835. He is buried in Bellevue Cemetery there, and Boyle County, Kentucky
Boyle County, Kentucky
Boyle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Its county seat is Danville. In 2000, its population was 28,432. It was formed in 1842 and named for John Boyle , a U.S...
was later named after him.