John Samuel Sherburne
Encyclopedia
John Samuel Sherburne was a lawyer, politician, and United States federal judge
from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
.
Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, Sherburne graduated from Dartmouth College
in 1776 and attended the law department of Harvard University
. He read law to be admitted to the bar
and commenced private practice in Portsmouth in 1776. He served in the Continental Army
as a member of the New Hampshire Militia
during the Revolutionary War
, rising to become brigade Major on the staff of General William Whipple
. He left the service after he lost a leg in the engagement at Butts Hill
in Rhode Island
in August of 1778. His private practice continued until 1789, when he became the United States Attorney
for the District of New Hampshire from 1789 to 1793, and again from 1801 to 1804.
Sherburne served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
from 1790-c.1793, and then represented the state in the United States House of Representatives
from 1793 to 1797. Following his congressional service, he resumed his private practice in Portsmouth until 1801, when he returned to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and began his second stint as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, until 1804.
On March 22, 1804, Sherburne was nominated by President Thomas Jefferson
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
vacated by John Pickering
. Sherburne was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 24, 1804, and received his commission on March 26, 1804. He served thereafter until his death, in Portsmouth, in 1830.
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....
from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
.
Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, Sherburne graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1776 and attended the law department of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He read law to be admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
and commenced private practice in Portsmouth in 1776. He served in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
as a member of the New Hampshire Militia
New Hampshire Militia
The New Hampshire Militia was first organized in March 1680, by New Hampshire Colonial President John Cutt. The King of England authorized the Provincial President to give commissions to persons who shall be best qualified for regulating and discipline of the militia. President Cutt placed Major...
during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, rising to become brigade Major on the staff of General William Whipple
William Whipple
William Whipple, Jr. was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Hampshire....
. He left the service after he lost a leg in the engagement at Butts Hill
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Siege of Newport, took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of...
in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in August of 1778. His private practice continued until 1789, when he became the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the District of New Hampshire from 1789 to 1793, and again from 1801 to 1804.
Sherburne served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
from 1790-c.1793, and then represented the state in 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...
from 1793 to 1797. Following his congressional service, he resumed his private practice in Portsmouth until 1801, when he returned to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and began his second stint as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, until 1804.
On March 22, 1804, Sherburne was nominated by President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
The United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of New Hampshire. The Warren B. Rudman U.S...
vacated by 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...
. Sherburne 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 March 24, 1804, and received his commission on March 26, 1804. He served thereafter until his death, in Portsmouth, in 1830.