Henry Marchant

Born on April 9, 1741, in Martha's Vineyard, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America,[1] Marchant received an Artium Magister degree in 1762 from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) and read law in 1776.[Note 1][1] He entered private practice in Newport, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, British America (State of Rhode Island, United States from July 4, 1776) from 1767 to 1777.[1] He was Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1771 to 1777.[1] He was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress (Continental Congress) from 1777 to 1779.[1] He was one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation.[2] He resumed private practice in South Kingstown, Rhode Island from 1780 to 1784, also engaging in farming.[1] He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1784 to 1790.[1] 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.[2]

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 1 Stat. 128.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 3, 1790, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on August 30, 1796, due to his death in Newport.[1] He was interred in the Common Burial Ground in Newport.[2]

Marchant was a member of Second Congregational Church of Newport.[3] His farm, the Henry Marchant Farm, is located in South Kingstown.

• Lovejoy, David S. "Henry Marchant and the Mistress of the World." William and Mary Quarterly 3d ser., 12 (July 1955): 375–98.

• United States Congress. "Henry Marchant (id: M000125)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Henry Marchant at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.