James Sullivan and the Creation of Massachusetts
James Sullivan was an influential Massachusetts lawmaker during the American Revolution and a Governor his State.
James Sullivan
As a child, James Sullivan developed epilepsy.
This, coupled with a severe leg injury, prevented James from taking to the field when the Revolutionary War broke out.
It did not hinder him from becoming a major player in Massachusetts politics during the American Founding.
Revolutionary Leader
James studied law under his brother, future-General John Sullivan, and quickly became one of the most respected legal thinkers in his colony.
By the time the war began at Lexington and Concord he was already serving in the Provincial Congress.
Following independence, Sullivan served on the committee which drafted the Massachusetts Constitution and was shortly thereafter placed on the State Supreme Court.
Defending Rebels
Sullivan spent the better part of a decade on the Supreme Court before resigning due to low pay.
Returning to private practice, James defended several of Shays’ Rebels during their treason trials.
Furthermore, he was a Delegate to the convention called to ratify the US Constitution where he supported the new government but also suggested several amendments.
Attorney General
In 1790, James was appointed as Massachusetts Attorney General, a position he would retain for the next seventeen years.
During this time he was chosen as the Federal Government’s representative in the Maine-New Brunswick Border Commission.
This Commission was assembled in response to the Jay Treaty and was intended to discuss with Great Britain exactly where in the Northeast the United States ended and Canada began.
Governor
Sullivan ran for Governor on several occasions in the late 1790’s and early 1800’s.
He kept losing, but the Democratic-Republican Party, of which he was a member, kept nominating him because his moderate views in the heavily Federalist State were appealing.
Finally, in 1807, James won the office, presiding during the controversial Embargo Act of 1807 for which many of his actions (along with those of President Jefferson) received heavy criticism.
Despite the controversy, Sullivan won a second term, during which he passed away after several years of declining health.
If you’d like to learn about another Governor of Massachusetts, here is an extremely important one:
Elbridge Gerry - More Than Just Gerrymandering
James Sullivan had a really interesting discussion with John Adams about giving suffrage to women.
Check out this interview I did last summer with Jane Hampton Cook to learn more on that topic:
