Samuel Prentiss (1782-1857) - Find a Grave Memorial

US Senator. US District Court Judge. Brother of New York Congressman John Holmes Prentiss. Moved to Worcester and later Northfield, Massachusetts. Completed schooling, instructed in classics by private tutor. Studied law in Northfield and in Brattleboro, Vermont. Admitted to bar, moved to Montpelier, began practice, 1802. Married Lucretia Houghton (March 6, 1786 - June 15, 1855) of Northfield, October 3, 1804. Twelve children, of whom two died in infancy. Ten sons reached adulthood – George, Samuel, Edward, John, Charles, Henry, Frederick, Theodore, Joseph, James. All but Edward became lawyers. Samuel served as Judge of Ohio Court of Common Pleas and District Court. Edward became pharmacist before accepting appointment as Clerk of US District Court for Vermont, serving 1842-59. Theodore relocated to Wisconsin and served in state legislature and as Mayor of Watertown. Declined election to state Supreme Court, 1822. Vermont House, 1824-25. Associate Justice, Vermont Supreme Court, 1825-29. Chief Justice, 1829-31. Elected to Senate as Anti-Jacksonian, 1831 and reelected as Whig in 1837, serving March 4, 1831 to April 11, 1842. Sponsor of law banning dueling in District of Columbia. Chairman, Committee on Patents and the Patent Office. Resigned to become Judge of United States District Court for Vermont, serving from 1842 until his death.

Bio by: Bill McKern