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BIOGRAPHICAL GAZETTEER                                                   609
Biographical Gazetteer
The following sketches outline the political careers of the principal
Connecticut leaders. When known, their political positions are indi-
cated (1) in state politics prior to 1787; (2) on the Constitution in 1787;
(8) in national politics after 1787. In several cases the terms are too
limiting. Thus Roger Sherman supported both "agrarian" and "mer-
cantile" measures before and during 1787, depending upon the issues.
William Williams, Joseph Hopkins, Eliphalet Dyer, and Erastus Wol-
cott opposed the Constitution, but voted for it in the state Convention
and hence were both "Anti federalist" and "Federalist" in 1787 (marked
with asterisks in this gazetteer). Richard Law was a "Federalist" after
1789. Yet, in 1801 the D emocra tic- Republicans nominated him for gov-
ernor, and, when he declined the nomination, they did not name
another candidate to replace him.
DYER, E-LiPHALET (1721-1807)
Agrarian/Antifederalist*/  ?
Born Windham. Yale B.A. 1740, M.A. 1743. Admitted to bar, 1746. Militia officer,
1745-76. Windham County justice of peace, 1746-62, 1784-85, 1793-98. Windham
delegate to House, 1747-60, 1784, 1793 (speaker, 1784). Member of Council, 1762-84.
Agent for Susquehannah Company in England, 1763-64. Delegate to Stamp Act
Congress, 1765. judge of Superior Court, 1766-93 (chief judge, 1789-93). Delegate
to Congress, 1774-76, 1777-80, 1782-83. Member council of safety, 1775-77, 1779-80,
1782-83. Delegate to Providence Convention, 1776-77. State counsel in Wyoming
dispute before federal court at Trenton, 1782. Delegate to state Convention, voted
to ratify, 1788.
EDWARDS, PIERPONT (1750-1826)
? /Federalist/Federalist; D emocra tic- Republican
Born Northampton, Mass., son of Rev. Jonathan Edwards. College of New Jersey
(Princeton) B.A. 1768. Began law practice in New Haven, 1771. New Haven delegate
to House, 1777-78, 1784-85, 1787-88, 1789-90 (speaker, 1789-90). Elected to Con-
gress, 1787-89 (attended, 178 8). Delegate to state Convention, voted to ratify, 1788.
U. S. district attorney for Connecticut, 1789-1804. Elected to U. S. House of Repre-
sentatives, 1790, but declined. State's attorney for New Haven County, 1798-1805.
U. S. district judge for Connecticut, 1806-26. Delegate to state constitutional con-
vention., 1818.
ELLSWORTH, OLIVER (1745-1807)
Mercantile/Federalist/Federalist
Born Windsor. College of New Jersey (Princeton) B.A. 1766. Admitted to bar,
1771. Windsor delegate to House, 1773-75. Hartford County justice of peace, 1774-
80. State's attorney for Hartford County, 1777-85. Delegate to Congress, 1778-83..
Member council of safety, 1779. Hartford delegate to House, 1779. Delegate to
Hartford Convention, 1779, to Philadelphia Convention, 1780. Member of Council,
1780-85. judge of Superior Court, 1785-88. Delegate to Constitutional Convention,
1787 (member Committee of Detail). Author of "Landholder" essays, 1787-88. Dele-
gate to state Convention, voted to ratify, 1788. U. S. Senator, 1789-96. Chief justice
of U. S. 1796-1800. Peace commissioner to France, 1799-180-0. Member of Council,
1802-7.