James Fisk (politician)

James Fisk
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1809
Preceded by	William Chamberlain
Succeeded by	William Chamberlain
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1815
Preceded by	William Chamberlain
Succeeded by	Chauncey Langdon
United States Senator from Vermont
In office November 4, 1817 – January 8, 1818
Preceded by	Dudley Chase
Succeeded by	William A. Palmer
Personal details
Born	(1763-10-04)October 4, 1763 Greenwich, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	Swanton, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s)	Priscilla West
Profession	Politician, Minister, Lawyer, Judge
Religion	Universalist

James Fisk (October 4, 1763 – November 17, 1844) was an American politician from Vermont. He served in the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

Biography

Fisk was born in Greenwich, Massachusetts and was self-educated. He served in the Revolutionary War from 1779 to 1782. He was a member of the Massachusetts General Court in 1785. Fisk was ordained as a Universalist minister, and preached occasionally. He married Priscilla West.

Fisk moved to Barre, Vermont in 1798 where he worked as a farmer and minister. He studied law and was admitted to the bar; he began the practice of law in Barre.

Fisk entered politics in Vermont as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, serving from 1800 to 1805, 1809 to 1810 and in 1815. He was judge of the Orange County, Vermont Court from 1802 to 1809 and in 1816. He was selected as the member from Orange County to locate the capital in 1803. Fisk served as chairman of the committee that endeavored to get a settlement of the northern boundary with Canada in 1804.

In 1804 Fisk was elected as a Democratic-Republican candidate to the United States House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1805 until March 3, 1809. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1808. In 1811 he was elected again to the House, and served from March 4, 1811 until March 3, 1815. He was chairman of the Committee on Elections.

Fisk was appointed United States Judge for the Territory of Indiana in 1812 by President James Madison, but declined the appointment. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in1814, and served as judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont from 1815 until 1816.

He was elected as a Democratic-Republican candidate to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dudley Chase. Fisk served in the Senate from November 4, 1817 until he resigned on January 8, 1818 to serve as collector of customs for the district of Vermont from 1818 until 1826. He moved to Swanton, Vermont in 1819.

Death

Fisk died on November 17, 1844 in Swanton. He is interred at the Church Street Cemetery in Swanton.

Further reading

• "Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889" by William Adams, The Syracuse Journal Company Printers, 1899

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Find A Grave: James Fisk
• govtrack.us: Sen. James Fisk
• The Political Graveyard: James Fisk (1763-1844)

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William Chamberlain	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 3rd congressional district 1805 - 1809	Succeeded by William Chamberlain
Preceded by William Chamberlain	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 3rd congressional district 1811 - 1815	Succeeded by Chauncey Langdon
United States Senate
Preceded by Dudley Chase	U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Vermont 1817—1818 Served alongside: Isaac Tichenor	Succeeded by William A. Palmer

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