US Congressman. He was born to Israel Shipherd and his wife Mary Rudd Shipherd in Amenia, Dutchess County, New York, on November 15, 1768, (some sources say November 15, 1767, in Granville, Washington County, New York). He was educated locally and attended and completed preparatory studies. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced his practice of law in Granville, New York. He married Nancy Elizabeth "Betsey" Bull on November 23, 1794, and the couple had six children together including John Jay Shipherd (1802 to 1844), who co-founded Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, in 1833, and Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan, in 1844, with Philo Penfield. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland, shortly thereafter to pursue a political career. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected alongside United States Representative Elisha I. Winter. A Member of the Federalist Party, he then served New York's 12th District (Thirteenth Congress) in the United States Congress from March 4, 1813, to March 3, 1815. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representatives John Savage and Asa Adgate on March 4, 1815. After leaving the United States Congress he resumed his practice of law in Granville, New York, and then relocated to Middlebury, Vermont. He then served a term as a trustee of the distinguished Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, from 1819 to 1841. During that time he relocated to Moriah, New York. He passed away at his residence in Moriah, New York, on November 1, 1841, at the age of 73, and was buried in the South Moriah Cemetery (or Moriah Corners Cemetery) in that city. His wife Nancy Elizabeth "Betsey" passed away on May 25, 1858, at the age of about 64 (some sources say 85), but she is laid to rest at Briggs Cemetery in Ballston Spa, New York.