Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-12-28
Biograpltp.
Some account qFthe LIFE and Character Of tie
Han. OLIVER ELLSWORTH

FROM THE CoNNEcTtcUT cOURANT.
MR. ELLSWORTH was born in Windsor,
Connecticut, III April, 1745. AT The age
of II he entered Yale College but after
wards removed to Princeton, when he grad
uated in 1865 Within few years after
leaving College, lie commenced the prac-
tike oflaw in the county of Hartford, and
almost Immediately rose 70 great cminence
az the har His talents as an advocate were
unrnaucd, and his practice became very eX-
tensve and profitable. During the revOlu
tIonary war. he was appointed States Attor-
nov fol the county Of Hartford. IL October,
III, being then thirty tWo years Of age,
lie WIS chosen IN the General Assembly,
enc ofthe delegutesto the Congress Vt the
United States. As member of that lcgis-
lature, he was distinguished for his industry
anil tirMness, aiVi tor ltIs gitat powers III
debate. IN 1880, he was chosen by the
Frecmen member Of the Council Of the
STATE, which place lie held by annual cleo
uuns, until MAY 1884, when lie was apPoln
ted Judge of the Superior Court. He
continued on the bench II that court until
1897, when lie W. chosen = member "a tie
Convention, which was called for the pur
pose Of forming NV constitution for the
United States He las ever been considered
ore of the ablest and most influential men,
bcrs e The convention, and as having largely
contributed to the form -i0n OF our COnstitu-
ton. Immediately oil Ills retun, IKE was
chosen into The State C.uycniiOn and did
more probably than oil others, TO accomplish
The adoption ofthe Federal Constitution in
Connecticut "a soon az that constitution
hsd been adopted w The number Of state
requisite 70 the commencement Of its o.
crations, Mr.. Ellsworth was appointed q Sen
atur OF De United States; which place he
held until March rs s, when presIdentW
nCton nominated him Chict Justice of the
Supreme Court III the United States. All
tho for many years his attention had been
entirely drawn away from the practice, and
tlie study Of the law, he appeared at the
head Of that court with great dignity and
responsibility. His decisions were admired
throughout the country 81 their souudnes5
and integrity while his diligence, activity,
and patience on the circuits, were without
parallel After having presided IN the
highest court 0t law bib the United States
for nearly four years, with great reputation
Ire in the year 1879 lie was appointed Envoy
Extraordinary Up France, TO settle and ad-
iu-t treaty with Mat nation. On his pass
age " Europe, lie suffered severely IN sea
sickness, and the t@t,gics Of winters yoy-
age, and bis constitution received shock,
tuu which " ~.yr recovered After hav-
ing IN conjunction with lis fellow com
ms,ioners formed treaty with France, he
went to England for the purpose 81 trying
uc C4IiClc, Of The waters ~ the disease
Z T.. ~ lsI
Ccd. WL.lc lie was ia Europe, finding his
health TOO much injured " support tie IA
tirucs incident 10 MS duties on the bench,
he resigned the o!Tcc Of Chief Justice anG
On his return to America, he retired r. his
fmib at Wndsur III irecmeh o. the
State, grateful for hi, great public services,
and DESTROYS Of sheVrT their respect tor
their ilustrous 1c.iDwC IuZe", improved
,Ic first opportunity that presented, to elect
him into their State Council Although
subject 10 occasional fits Of distressing SICK
ness, lie continued, ~ a member q that
branch Of the legislature, and VI the SUI
creme Court Of Luors, of which by virtue
Of his Office he was member, to display
those great abilities, which had 50 long
distinguished him among the ablest men
which our country ever produced, until May
1907, when upon new modelling the State
Judiciary, and blending the Superior Court
and the Supreme Court Of Errors, he was
appointed Chief Justice Of the State. Be-
fore, LovyUVer, the session Of the Legislature
at which Lee received this appointment had
ended, feeling strong indications OF reCur
renee ot lis disease, and being firmly per-
suadcd fhgt lie could not survive many nor e
of It's attacks, he declined the appointment.
AS lie had tOresccn, he was immediately at
forwards seized with great violence, and
for a cOnside rable time his life was despair
ed Of lie afterwards in a considerable
degree recovered and was SO we'll in DC
tober, as to attend during part Of the ses-
sion of the General Assembly at New-Ha-
ven. A short time after his return, he was
again attacked, and on the eighth day he
expired His funeral was attented on Sat
urday the 28th ut A sermon adapted to the
melancholy occasion was preached by the
Rev. Mr. Rowland Of Windsor, to a large
assembly, collected from that and the ada
cent towns, to pay the last duties TO their
deceased friend and fellow citizen.
After this concise history Of the public
life of Mr. Ellsworth, ii would almost seem
10 be unnecessary to say any thing further TO
grove, that very few men n the United
states have ever reached the pre-emInSnt
character which he can fairly claim. But,
lis lie was distinguished from most men N
The career Of life, it may not he unihteres-
.inr to trace some Of those qualities Of ms
mind which led him TO this distinction
OLIVER ELLSWORTH was born great
man. In an tie affairs Of life, whethcrlub-
.Ic or private, MS peculiar characteristics
were clearly discernlble, when he comm-n-