Henry Marchant


Henry Marchant was an Attorney General of Rhode Island, a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from Rhode Island, a signer of the Articles of Confederation and the first United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

Education and career

Born on April 9, 1741, in Martha's Vineyard, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America, Marchant received an Artium Magister degree in 1762 from the College of Philadelphia and read law in 1776. He entered private practice in Newport, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, British America from 1767 to 1777. He was Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1771 to 1777. He was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779. He was one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation. He resumed private practice in South Kingstown, Rhode Island from 1780 to 1784, also engaging in farming. He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1784 to 1790. He was a member of the Rhode Island convention to adopt the United States Constitution, which ultimately would be adopted by a separate convention in 1790.

Federal judicial service

Marchant was nominated by President George Washington on July 2, 1790, to the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, to a new seat authorized by. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 3, 1790, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on August 30, 1796, due to his death in Newport. He was interred in the Common Burial Ground in Newport.

Notable case

Marchant presided over West v. Barnes, which would be the first case appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Church and farm

Marchant was a member of Second Congregational Church of Newport. His farm, the Henry Marchant Farm, is located in South Kingstown.

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