Peters, Richard, 1744-1828

Richard Peters (June 22, 1744 – August 22, 1828) was a Pennsylvania lawyer, Continental Army soldier, Federalist politician, author and United States District Judge. Before his federal judicial service in the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania, Peters served as secretary of the Continental Board of War, delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and as member and speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and later the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Born at Belmont Mansion, now in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Peters graduated from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) in 1761, then read law in 1763. Peters had a private legal practice in Philadelphia from 1763 to 1771. In 1771, he became registrar of the admiralty, and served in that post until 1776. By 1775, Peters became a captain of the local militia, and continued in that position in the Continental Army, although his patriotic service would be mostly administrative. From June 13, 1776, until resigning on June 8, 1781, Peters served as secretary (and member of) the Continental Board of War. Peters was elected as a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation (Continental Congress) and served from 1782 to 1783.

Pennsylvania voters elected and re-elected him as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1787 to 1790, and members elected him as their Speaker from 1788 to 1790. Peters was then elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate, and he succeeded General Thomas Mifflin as its speaker from 1791 to 1792. When the federal government was formed, Peters declined an officer to become comptroller of the treasury. Peters also was the first president of the company which constructed the first permanent bridge over the Schuylkill River. President George Washington on January 12, 1792, nominated Peters to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge William Lewis. The United States Senate confirmed the nomination on January 13, 1792, and Judge Peters received his commission the same day. When Congress created a separate judicial districts in Pennsylvania, Peters was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 20, 1818, the new seat authorized by 3 Stat. 462.

Judge Peters' judicial service terminated on August 22, 1828, when he died at Belmont Mansion. He was interred in St. Peter's Churchyard in Philadelphia.