Samuel Hitchcock
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| Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit | |
| In office February 20, 1801 – July 1, 1802 | |
| Appointed by | John Adams |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 2 Stat. 89 |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont | |
| In office September 3, 1793 – February 20, 1801 | |
| Appointed by | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Nathaniel Chipman |
| Succeeded by | Elijah Paine |
| 1st Attorney General of Vermont | |
| In office October 1790 – September 3, 1793 | |
| Governor | Thomas Chittenden |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Buck |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1755-03-23)March 23, 1755 Brimfield, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America |
| Died | November 30, 1813(1813-11-30) (aged 58) Burlington, Vermont |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery Burlington, Vermont |
| Political party | Federalist[1] |
| Spouse | Lucy Caroline Allen (m. 1789-1813, his death) |
| Relations | Ethan Allen (father-in-law) |
| Children | 6 (including Henry Hitchcock and Ethan A. Hitchcock) |
| Education | Harvard University |
| Occupation | Attorney |
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Samuel Hitchcock (March 23, 1755 – November 30, 1813) was the 1st Attorney General of Vermont, a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont and a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit. He was the son-in-law of Ethan Allen and the father of Ethan A. Hitchcock.
Born on March 23, 1755, in Brimfield, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America,[2] Hitchcock graduated from Harvard University in 1777.[2]Heread law with Jedediah FosterinWest Brookfield, Massachusetts, attained admission to the bar, and practiced in Worcester, Massachusetts.[3] He moved to Manchester, Republic of Vermont in 1784.[4]
Hitchcock continued private practice in Burlington, Republic of Vermont from 1786 to 1787.[2] He was state's attorney for Chittenden County, Republic of Vermont from 1787 to 1790.[2] He was the 1st Attorney General of Vermont (Republic of Vermont until March 4, 1791, State of Vermont, United States on and from that date) from 1790 to 1793.[2] He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives (under the Republic of Vermont and State of Vermont) from 1789 to 1793.[2] Hitchcock also served as a Justice of the Peace and heard cases in Burlington.[5]
In 1791, Hitchcock was a delegate to the Vermont convention which ratified the United States Constitution and enabled Vermont to join the Union as the 14th state.[6] Hitchcock drafted the charter for the University of Vermont, was an original member of its board of trustees, and was the longtime secretary of the board.[7] In 1792, he was one of Vermont's presidential electors, casting his ballots for Washington for President and Adams for Vice President.[8]
Hitchcock received a recess appointment from President George Washington on September 3, 1793, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont vacated by Judge Nathaniel Chipman.[2] He was nominated to the same position by President Washington on December 27, 1793.[2] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 30, 1793, and received his commission on January 28, 1794.[2] His service terminated on February 20, 1801, due to his elevation to the Second Circuit.[2]
Hitchcock was nominated by President John Adams on February 18, 1801, to the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit, to a new seat authorized by 2 Stat. 89.[2] He was confirmed by the Senate on February 20, 1801, and received his commission the same day.[2] His service terminated on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the court.[2]
Following his departure from the federal bench, Hitchcock resumed private practice in Vergennes and Burlington, Vermont from 1802 to 1813.[2] He died in Burlington on November 30, 1813.[a][2][9][10] He was buried in Burlington's Elmwood Cemetery.[11]
Hitchcock was the son of Noah and Mary Hitchcock.[3] He was married to Lucy Caroline Allen (1768–1842), the daughter of Ethan Allen.[3] Their children who lived to adulthood included Lorraine Allen Hitchcock, Henry Hitchcock, Mary Anne Hitchcock, Ethan A. Hitchcock, Caroline P. Hitchcock, and Samuel Hitchcock.[3]
At Burlington, Ver on the 30th ult., Hon. Samuel Hitchcock, age 59.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Office established |
1st Attorney General of Vermont 1790–1793 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont 1793–1801 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Seat established by 2 Stat. 89 |
Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit 1801–1802 |
Succeeded by Seat abolished |
