John S. Sherburne

John Samuel Sherburne (1757 – August 2, 1830) was a United States representative from New Hampshire and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire.

John Samuel Sherburne
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
In office March 26, 1804 – August 2, 1830
Appointed by	Thomas Jefferson
Preceded by	John Pickering
Succeeded by	Matthew Harvey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's at-large district
In office March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1797
Preceded by	Samuel Livermore
Succeeded by	William Gordon
Personal details
Born	John Samuel Sherburne 1757 (1757) Portsmouth, Province of New Hampshire, British America
Died	August 2, 1830(1830-08-02) (aged 72–73) Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political party	Anti-Administration Democratic-Republican
Education	Harvard University Dartmouth College read law

Education and career

Born in 1757, in Portsmouth, Province of New Hampshire, British America,^[1] Sherburne attended Harvard University, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1776 and read law in 1776.^[1] During the American Revolutionary War he served in the Continental Army as a brigade staff major.^[1] He entered private practice in Portsmouth, New Hampshire from 1776 to 1789, and from 1797 to 1801.^[1] He was United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire from 1789 to 1793, and from 1801 to 1804.^[1] He was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1790 to c. 1793, and in 1801.^[1] He was also the runner-up in both the 1790 at-large election, in which the top 3 won and Sherburne placed 4th^[2], and a 1789 special election for the U.S. House, after previous member-elect Benjamin West declined to serve.^[3]

Congressional service

Sherburne was elected as an Anti-Administration candidate from New Hampshire's at-large congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 3rd United States Congress and reelected as a Democratic-Republican to the 4th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1793, to March 3, 1797.^[4]

Federal judicial service

Sherburne was nominated by President Thomas Jefferson on March 22, 1804, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire vacated by Judge John Pickering.^[5][1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 24, 1804, and received his commission on March 26, 1804.^[1] His service terminated on August 2, 1830, due to his death in Portsmouth.^[1]

Involvement in impeachment, conviction and removal of Pickering

Pickering was the first federal official to be removed from office through impeachment on March 12, 1804.^[6] Sherburne, who as a witness for the prosecution managers had aided the case for Pickering's removal even though the latter was insane and did not knowingly commit "high crimes and misdemeanors" on the bench,^[7] himself became insane and was for all intents and purposes removed from the bench in 1826, though he continued to receive his salary until his 1830 death.^[8]

References

1. John Samuel Sherburne at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. "A New Nation Votes". elections.lib.tufts.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
3. "Our Campaigns - NH At-Large - Special Race - Jun 22, 1789". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
4. United States Congress. "John S. Sherburne (id: S000339)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
5. Lynn W. Turner, "The Impeachment of John Pickering," The American Historical Review, Vol. 54, No. 3 (Apr. 1949), p. 505.
6. Lynn W. Turner, "The Impeachment of John Pickering," The American Historical Review, Vol. 54, No. 3 (Apr. 1949), p. 504.
7. Lynn W. Turner, "The Impeachment of John Pickering," The American Historical Review, Vol. 54, No. 3 (Apr. 1949), p. 501.
8. Lynn W. Turner, "The Impeachment of John Pickering," The American Historical Review, Vol. 54, No. 3 (Apr. 1949), p. 506.

Sources

• United States Congress. "John S. Sherburne (id: S000339)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• John Samuel Sherburne at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Samuel Livermore	United States Representative from New Hampshire's at-large congressional district 1793–1797	Succeeded by William Gordon
Legal offices
Preceded by John Pickering	Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire 1804–1830	Succeeded by Matthew Harvey