Fisk, James, 1763-1844

James Fisk was born October 4, 1763, in Greenwich, MA. After serving three years in the Revolutionary Army (1779-1782), he returned to Greenwich and married Priscilla West (d.1840). In 1785 Fisk was elected representative to the Massachusetts General Assembly. About this time he began to preach as a Universalist minister. In 1798 Fisk moved to Barre, VT where he studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practice. Rapidly growing to prominence, Fish was elected to the Vermont legislature in 1800-1805, 1809-1810, and in 1815. He was judge of the Orange County Court from 1802-1809 and in 1816 was a judge of the State Supreme Court. He was elected as a democrat to the U.S. Congress in 1805-1809 and again from 1811-1815. In 1812 Fisk was nominated Judge of the Territory of Indiana but declined. In 1817 Fisk was elected to the U.S. Senate due to the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dudley Chase and served until January 1818. In 1819 Fisk moved from Barre to Swanton, VT where he accepted the post of Customs Collector for the District of Vermont which he held until 1826. He was Justice of the Peace from 1836-1843. On November 17, 1844, Fisk died.