Preceded by 6th Governor Caleb Strong |
James Sullivan 7th Governor of Massachusetts1807—1808 |
Succeeded by Acting Governor Levi Lincoln, Sr. |
Sullivan was born and raised in Berwick, Maine (then part of Massachusetts), and studied law with his brother John Sullivan. After establishing a successful law practice, he became actively involved in the Massachusetts state government during the American Revolutionary War, and was appointed to the state's highest court in March 1776. He was involved in drafting the state constitution and the state's ratifying convention for the United States Constitution. After resigning from the bench in 1782 he returned to private practice, and was appointed Attorney General in 1790. During his years as judge and attorney general he was responsible for drafting and revising much of the state's legislation as part of the transition from British rule to independence. While attorney general he worked with the commission that established the border between Maine and New Brunswick, and prosecuted several high-profile murder cases.
Sullivan was a political partisan, supporting the Democratic-Republican Party and subscribing to Jeffersonian republican ideals. He supported John Hancock and Samuel Adams in their political careers, and was a frequent contributor, often under one of many pseudonyms, to political dialogue in the state's newspapers. He ran unsuccessfully for governor several times before finally winning the office in 1807. He died in office during his second term in Boston, Mass., December 10, 1808; interment in Granary Burying Ground. [1][2]
In addition to his political pursuits Sullivan engaged in charitable and business endeavors. He was a leading proponent of the Middlesex Canal and the first bridge between Boston and Cambridge, and was instrumental in the development of Boston's first public water supply. He was the founding president of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and held membership in a variety of other charitable organizations. He wrote one of the first histories of his native Maine, and a legal text on land titles. Legal historian Charles Warren calls him one of the most important legal figures of the time in Massachusetts. [3]
Sullivan's brothers were active participants in the Revolutionary War. John, Daniel, and Eben, all served in the Continental Army. John Sullivan served with some distinction until he retired from the army to enter New Hampshire politics in 1779; Eben was captured in the Battle of The Cedars in 1776, and spent some time as a captive among the Mohawk, where he was subjected to torture. Daniel was also captured in action and died aboard a British prison ship. Sullivan, Maine is named for his brother Daniel, one of the early settlers of that area, and several places in New Hampshire are named for John. In 1808, while Sullivan was governor, a small fortification now known as Fort Sullivan was constructed in Calais, Maine. Who it is named for is uncertain: one early Eastport historian states that John and James are both likely candidates, preferring John for his association with General Henry Dearborn, who ordered the fort's construction.
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Timeline for James Sullivan -
APR 22, 1744 - James Sullivan born in Berwick, York County, Maine
JUN 26, 1748 - Mehetable Odiorne, future wife of James Sullivan, born in Durham county, New Hampshire
About 1768 - James Sullivan (age 24) married Mehetable Odiorne (age 20)
Governor of Massachusetts.
6 Jan 1769 - Son James Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 25) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 21) in Biddeford now Saco
1770 - James Sullivan (age 26) was King's Attorney for York
8 Oct 1771 - Avis Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 27) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 23) in Saco, Maine
OCT 16 1771 - Avis Sullivan dies
29 Jul 1772 - Daughter Mehetable Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 28) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 24)
3 Nov 1774 - Son William Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 30) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 26)
1774 - James Sullivan (age 30) in Provincial Congress
1775 - James was unable to give military services on account of a fractured limb. He was a member of the Provisional Congress when in 1775 he received a vote of thanks for his successful mission to Ticonderoga.
1776 - James Sullivan (age 32) was a Judge Supreme Court
1776 - James Sullivan (age 32) was Judge of the Superior Court from 1776-82. Information from DAR Record 42962, 7195 and 9343.
9 Apr 1777 - Son John Langdon Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 33) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 29) in York, Saco, Maine
17 Jun 1779 - Son Richard Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 35) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 31) in Middlesex, Groton, Massachusetts
16 May 1781 - Son William Bant Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 37) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 33) in Groton, Massachusetts
21 Feb 1783 - Son George Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 39) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 35)
1784 and 1785 - James Sullivan is Delegate to Continental Congress, member Mass. Legislature
24 Apr 1784 - Daughter Nancy Sullivan born to James Sullivan (age 40) and Mehetable Odiorne (age 36) Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
22 Jul 1785 - Daughter Nancy Sullivan dies
26 Jun 1786 - Mehetable Odiorne dies (age 38)
1787 - James Sullivan serves in Governor's Council
James Sullivan married Martha Langdon in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
1796 - Son John Sullivan on commission for determining Eastern Boundary
1804 - Son John Sullivan Elector of President
10 Dec 1808 - James Sullivan (age 64) dies in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
AUG 26 1812 - Martha Langdon dies in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts ______________________________________
Materials for a History of the Family of John Sullivan of Berwick, New England and of the O'Sullivans of Ardea, Ireland Chiefly Collected by the Late Thomas Coffin Amory with a Pedigree of O'Sullivan Beare by Sir J Bernard Burke, C.B., LL.D., Ulster Printed for Private Distribution 3/906 Cambridge: John Wilson and Son University Press 1893
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James is 23 degrees from Herbert Adair, 17 degrees from Richard Adams, 18 degrees from Mel Blanc, 22 degrees from Dick Bruna, 20 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 31 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 19 degrees from Sam Edwards, 16 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 21 degrees from Marty Krofft, 15 degrees from Junius Matthews, 15 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 20 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.