Marchant, Henry, 1741-1796

Henry Marchant (April 9, 1741 – August 30, 1796) was a Founding Father of the United States, an attorney general of Rhode Island, a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from Rhode Island, a signer of the Articles of Confederation, and the first United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

Born in Martha's Vineyard, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America, Marchant attended school in Newport, Rhode Island before receiving an Artium Magister degree in 1762 from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) and reading law. He entered private practice in Newport from 1767 to 1777 and served as attorney general of Rhode Island from 1771 to 1777. Marchant was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779 and signed the Articles of Confederation. After resuming private practice in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, from 1780 to 1784, and engaging in farming, he served as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1784 to 1790. Marchant was a member of the Rhode Island convention to adopt the United States Constitution, which ultimately was adopted by a separate convention in 1790.

Marchant was nominated by President George Washington on July 2, 1790, to the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, to a new seat authorized by 1 Stat. 128. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 3, 1790, and received his commission the same day. Marchant's service terminated upon his death in Newport. He was interred in the Common Burial Ground in Newport.