The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. V, 1905Various
History
The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. V, 1905
Various
American-Irish Historical Society -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- United States -- Periodicals; Irish Americans -- Periodicals
This was General Sullivan’s closing service in the military operations
of the war. I think he should be ranked second only to Greene and
Washington as a military leader. His services in civil affairs which
immediately followed were quite as valuable and important as his
military service. In 1780 he drafted the bill, which the Legislature
adopted, to regulate the militia; in 1781 he was delegate in the
National Congress; in 1782, ’83 and ’84 he was attorney-general of New
Hampshire; he was president of the state in 1786, ’87 and 89; he was the
Federal candidate in 1788 but was defeated by John Langdon, the
Republican candidate. Sullivan had defeated Langdon in the two years
previous, and in the year following; Sullivan was a Washington
federalist; he was a presidential elector when Washington was elected
the first time; he was president of the convention that adopted the
Federal constitution, June 21, 1788, which was the act that established
the Federal union; the vote stood 57 in favor to 42 against adoption; it
was largely through the influence of General Sullivan that the 57 votes
were secured and the Federal union was formed.
September 26, 1789, President Washington appointed him United States
district judge for New Hampshire, and he entered upon the duties of that
office Dec. 15 of that year; he remained in that office until his death,
Jan. 23, 1795, being nearly fifty-five years old, having been born on
the 17th of February, 1740. A better American, a more capable, a more
useful, or more fearless citizen than John Sullivan, New Hampshire never
had.
In this connection it may be well to say a few words about his
descendants, to show how strong was the hereditary force that came down
from Master Sullivan. General Sullivan’s son John was a prominent and
able lawyer in one of the Southern states, but died young. His son
George was attorney-general of New Hampshire twenty years. His grandson,
John, son of George, was attorney-general ten years or more, and his
grand nephew, John S. Wells, held the same office several years. They
were all able attorneys, and no family in the state has the equal of
this illustrious record.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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