Samuel Dana (Massachusetts politician)

Samuel Dana (June 26, 1767 – November 20, 1835) was an American lawyer and politician who served in both branches of the Massachusetts General Court, as President of the Massachusetts Senate and as a United States representative from Massachusetts.[1]

Samuel Dana
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 4th district
In office
September 22, 1814 – March 3, 1815
Preceded byWilliam M. Richardson
Succeeded byAsahel Stearns
Member of the Massachusetts
House of Representatives
In office
1803, 1825-1827
Member of the Massachusetts
State Senate
In office
1805-1812, 1817
President of the Massachusetts
State Senate
In office
1811–1812
Preceded byHarrison Gray Otis
Succeeded byJohn Phillips
In office
1807–1807
Preceded byJohn Bacon
Succeeded byHarrison Gray Otis
Personal details
Born(1767-06-26)June 26, 1767
Groton, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America
DiedNovember 20, 1835(1835-11-20) (aged 68)
Charlestown, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting placeGroton Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Rebecca Barrett
​
(after 1795)​
Children8
Parent(s)Samuel Dana
Anna Kenrick Dana

Early life and education

Dana was born in Groton in the Province of Massachusetts Bay on June 26, 1767, the son of the clergyman Samuel and Anna (Kenrick) Dana.[1] Dana attended the local public schools and later studied law in the office of United States District Court Judge John Lowell, and was then admitted to the bar in 1789.[1]

Career

Dana practiced law in Groton, Massachusetts[1] and later in Charlestown, Massachusetts.[2] On October 14, 1811 Dana also was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Court of Common Pleas, he held that position for nine years.[3]

Dana was appointed postmaster January 1, 1801, he served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1803[3] in the State senate and served as President of the Massachusetts Senate. Dana served as attorney for Middlesex County from 1807 to 1811.[1]

Member of Congress

Dana was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Thirteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William M. Richardson. Dana served from September 22, 1814 to March 3, 1815. Dana was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1814 to the Fourteenth Congress.[4]

Later life

After his congressional service Dana resumed the practice law. Dana was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1820.[3] Dana was again a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1825-1827.[3]

Personal life

On December 5, 1795, Dana was married to Rebecca Barrett of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Together, they had eight children, including a son, James Dana.[1]

Dana died in Charlestown, Massachusetts on November 20, 1835.[5] Dana was buried in Groton Cemetery.[3]

References
  1. Green, Samuel Abbott (1892), An Account of the Lawyers of Groton, Massachusetts: Including Natives who Have Practised Elsewhere, and Those Also who Have Studied Law in the Town. With an Appendix, Cambridge, Massachusetts: J. Wilson and Son, p. 33
  2. Davis, William Thomas (1900), History of the Judiciary of Massachusetts: Including the Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies, the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and the Commonwealth, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Company, p. 219
  3. Green, Samuel Abbott (1892), An Account of the Lawyers of Groton, Massachusetts: Including Natives who Have Practised Elsewhere, and Those Also who Have Studied Law in the Town. With an Appendix, Cambridge, Massachusetts: J. Wilson and Son, p. 34
  4. "DANA, Samuel - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  5. Davis, William Thomas (1900), History of the Judiciary of Massachusetts: Including the Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies, the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and the Commonwealth, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Company, p. 220
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