Nathaniel Pendleton

This article is about the lawyer and judge. For the wrestler, see Nat Pendleton.
Nathaniel Pendleton
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Georgia
In office
September 26, 1789 – September 1, 1796
Appointed byGeorge Washington
Preceded bySeat established by 1 Stat. 73
Succeeded byJoseph Clay Jr.
Attorney General of Georgia
In office
1785–1786
Preceded bySamuel Stirk
Succeeded byMatthew McAllister
Personal details
Born
Nathaniel Pendleton

(1756-10-27)October 27, 1756
New Kent County,
Colony of Virginia,
British America
DiedOctober 20, 1821(1821-10-20) (aged 64)
Hyde Park, New York
Resting placeSt. James' Churchyard
Hyde Park, New York
ChildrenNathanael G. Pendleton
RelativesEdmund Pendleton
John Penn
Educationread law

Nathaniel Pendleton (October 27, 1756 – October 20, 1821) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Georgia.

Education and career

Born on October 27, 1756, in New Kent County, Colony of Virginia, British America,[1] Pendleton read law.[1] He served in the Continental Army starting in 1775, during the American Revolutionary War,[1] serving as an aide-de-camp to General Nathanael Greene in the campaigns in the southern states.[2] He was in private practice in Savannah, Georgia until 1789.[1] He was Attorney General of Georgia from 1785 to 1786.[3] He was elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 which drafted the United States Constitution, but did not attend.[4][2] He was elected to the Congress of the Confederation (Continental Congress) in 1789, but did not attend.[4][2]

Federal judicial service

Pendleton was nominated by President George Washington on September 24, 1789, to the United States District Court for the District of Georgia, to a new seat authorized by 1 Stat. 73.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 26, 1789, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on September 1, 1796, due to his resignation.[1]

Later career

Following his resignation from the federal bench, Pendleton resumed private practice in Dutchess County, New York starting in 1796.[1] He was a Judge of the Dutchess County Court until 1821.[1]

Duel

On July 11, 1804, Pendleton served as a second to Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton’s fatal duel with Aaron Burr.[2]

Death

Pendleton died on October 20, 1821, in Hyde Park, New York.[1] He was interred in St. James' Churchyard in Hyde Park.[2]

Family

Pendleton was a nephew of Edmund Pendleton, the 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and cousin of John Penn, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation from North Carolina.[2] He was the father of Nathanael G. Pendleton, a United States representative from Ohio.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nathaniel Pendleton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ a b c d e f United States Congress. "Nathaniel Pendleton (id: P000207)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  3. ^ "History". Office of Attorney General of Georgia Chris Carr.
  4. ^ a b Marcus, Maeva (July 14, 1985). The Documentary History of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1789-1800: pt. 1. Appointments and proceedings. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231088688 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "A Guide to the Pendleton Family Papers, 1775–1881".

Sources

Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 1 Stat. 73
 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Georgia
1789–1796 		Succeeded by