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Eddy, Samuel, representative, was born in Johnston, R.I., March 31, 1769; son of Richard and Martha (Comstock) Eddy. His first American ancestor, who immigrated to Plymouth in 1630, was the son of the Rev. William Eddy, vicar of Crainbrook, county of Kent, England. Samuel was graduated from Brown university as salutatorian in 1787, and was admitted to the bar in 1790. On Feb. 28, 1790, he was appointed a delegate to the state convention which decided to adopt the constitution of the United States. He began practice in Providence, R.I., and was clerk of the Rhode Island superior court, 1790-94; clerk of the general assembly, 1793; member of the committee to collect and revise the state laws, 1794, and secretary of state of Rhode Island, 1798-1819. He was a representative in the 16th, 17th and 18th congresses, 1819-25. In May, 1826, he was elected fifth justice of the supreme judicial court of Rhode Island, and in 1827 became chief justice, holding the office until June, 1835. He was a fellow of Brown university, 1805-39, and secretary of the corporation, 1806-29. He was a corresponding member of the Massachusetts historical society. Brown conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in 1801. He published: Scripture Its Own Interpreter in Relation to the Character of Christ (1818), and Reasons Offered for His Opinions, to the First Baptist Church in Providence, from which he was Compelled to Withdraw for Heterodoxy (1818). He died in Providence, R.I., Feb. 2, 1839.
Samuel Eddy
EDDY, Samuel, jurist, born in Johnston, R. I., 31 March 1769; died in Providence, R. I., 2 February 1839. He was graduated at Brown in 1787, and studied law, but was not long in active practice. He was clerk of the RI Supreme Court in 1790'3, secretary of state in 17981819, and in the latter year was elected to congress as a Democrat without opposition, serving three terms until 1825. He was chief justice of the state Supreme Court in 1827'35. Brown gave him the degree of LL.D. in 1801. Judge Eddy contributed to the collections of the MA historical society, and published "Reasons for My Opinions" (Providence, 1818).
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright
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