Theodore Sedgwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theodore Sedgwick
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Portrait by Gilbert Stuart, c. 1808
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| 4th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | |
| In office December 2, 1799 – March 3, 1801 |
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| Preceded by | Jonathan Dayton |
| Succeeded by | Nathaniel Macon |
| President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
| In office June 27, 1798 – December 5, 1798 |
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| Preceded by | Jacob Read |
| Succeeded by | John Laurance |
| United States Senator from Massachusetts |
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| In office June 11, 1796 – March 3, 1799 |
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| Preceded by | Caleb Strong |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Dexter |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts |
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| In office March 4, 1789 – June 11, 1796 |
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| Preceded by | new seat |
| Succeeded by | Thomson J. Skinner |
| Constituency | 4th district (1789–93) 2nd district (1793–95) 1st district (1795–96) |
| In office March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 |
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| Preceded by | Thomson J. Skinner |
| Succeeded by | John Bacon |
| Constituency | 1st district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 9, 1746 West Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British America |
| Died | January 24, 1813 (aged 66) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Federalist (1795–1813) Pro-Administration (before 1795) |
| Spouses |
Elizabeth "Eliza" Mason
(m. 1767; died 1771)Pamela Dwight
(m. 1774; died 1807)Penelope Russell
(m. 1808) |
| Children | 10 |
| Alma mater | Yale College |
| Occupation | Attorney, politician, and jurist |
| Profession | Law |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  Continental Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War |
Theodore Sedgwick (May 9, 1746 – January 24, 1813) was an important American lawyer, politician, and judge. He served in the government of Massachusetts and later in the new United States government. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, a U.S. Representative, and a Senator for Massachusetts.
Sedgwick also held high positions like President pro tempore of the United States Senate and the fourth speaker of the United States House of Representatives. In 1802, he became a judge on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, where he served until he died.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Theodore Sedgwick was born in West Hartford, which was then part of the Connecticut Colony. His family had a long history in America, tracing back to Major General Robert Sedgwick, who came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636.
Sedgwick went to Yale College. There, he studied theology (the study of religion) and law. He did not finish his degree at Yale. Instead, he continued to study law by "reading law." This meant he learned from an experienced lawyer, Mark Hopkins, in Great Barrington.
Early Career and Military Service
In 1766, Sedgwick became a lawyer and started his own practice in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He later moved to Sheffield.
During the American Revolutionary War, Sedgwick joined the Continental Army. He served as a major, which is a military rank. He took part in important battles, including the expedition to Canada and the Battle of White Plains in 1776.
Fighting for Freedom in Court
As a young lawyer, Theodore Sedgwick took on an important case in 1781. He and another lawyer, Tapping Reeve, represented two enslaved people named Elizabeth Freeman (also known as Bett) and Brom. This was an early "freedom suit."
Elizabeth Freeman had escaped from her owner, Colonel John Ashley, because of cruel treatment. She and Brom sued for their freedom. Their lawyers argued that their enslavement went against the new state constitution of 1780. This constitution stated that "all men are born free and equal."
The jury agreed with Sedgwick and Reeve, ruling that Bett and Brom were free. This decision was later confirmed by the highest court in Massachusetts. After gaining her freedom, Elizabeth Freeman chose to work for wages in the Sedgwick family home. She helped raise their children for many years.
Theodore Sedgwick's Political Journey
Sedgwick was a member of the Federalist Party, one of the first political parties in the United States. His political career began in 1780 when he became a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was then elected to the state house and later as a state senator in Massachusetts.
In 1789, Sedgwick was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented different districts in Massachusetts until 1796. That year, he was elected to the United States Senate, serving until 1799. In 1799, he returned to the House of Representatives and was chosen as the fifth Speaker of the House. He served as Speaker until March 1801.
In 1802, Sedgwick became a justice (judge) on the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. He held this important position until his death.
Working with President John Adams
Theodore Sedgwick greatly admired John Adams, who became the second President of the United States. Sedgwick was present at Adams' swearing-in ceremony in 1797. He described the event as "the most august and sublime" he had ever seen.
Even though they had some disagreements on certain policies, Sedgwick and Adams shared a carriage ride together from Washington, D.C., to Massachusetts on Adams' last day as President. This shows their lasting connection despite political differences.
Family Life
Theodore Sedgwick married three times and had ten children. His first wife, Elizabeth "Eliza" Mason, died in 1771.
He then married Pamela Dwight in 1774. They had many children together. Among their notable children was Catharine Maria Sedgwick (born 1789), who became one of the first famous female writers in the United States. Another son, Theodore Sedgwick II, also became a lawyer.
After Pamela's death in 1807, Sedgwick married Penelope Russell in 1808.
Death and Legacy
Theodore Sedgwick passed away on January 24, 1813, in Boston. He was 66 years old. He was buried in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in his family's plot known as the "Sedgwick Pie."
Sedgwick's family continued to be prominent in American society. His great-grandson, Ellery Sedgwick, owned and published Atlantic Monthly. Later descendants include the actress Kyra Sedgwick and actor Robert Sedgwick.
See also
- Agrippa Hull
- Liberty's Kids, episode 37
In Spanish: Theodore Sedgwick para niños
Images for kids
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Pamela Dwight Sedgwick
