Sullivan, John, 1740-1795

John Sullivan (February 17, 1740 – January 23, 1795) was a Founding Father of the United States and an American General in the Revolutionary War winning several key battles most notably the Delaware crossing. He was a delegate in the Continental Congress, where he signed the Continental Association, the third governor of New Hampshire, and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire.

Born in Somersworth in the Province of New Hampshire, British America, he received a limited education. Sullivan read law between 1758 and 1760. He began the practice of law in 1763 at Berwick, now in Maine, and continued in the practice when he moved to Durham, New Hampshire in 1764. Sullivan built a friendship with the royal governor of New Hampshire, John Wentworth, but turned away from Wentworth as the American Revolution grew nearer. In 1774, Sullivan was named as a delegate to the First Continental Congress. In January 1775, a second Provincial Congress at Exeter voted to send Sullivan to the Second Continental Congress. On June 27, 1775, Sullivan left Philadelphia to join the army at the siege of Boston.

After the British evacuated Boston in the spring of 1776, Washington sent Brigadier General Sullivan north to replace the fallen John Thomas as commander in Quebec. In August 1776, Sullivan was promoted to major general. Sullivan rejoined Washington and was placed in command of the troops on Long Island to defend against British General Howe's forces about to envelop New York City. Briefly captured by the British, Sullivan was released in a prisoner exchange in time to rejoin Washington before the Battle of Trenton. In early 1778, he was transferred to the post of Rhode Island where he led Continental troops and militia. In the summer of 1779, Sullivan led the Sullivan Expedition, a massive campaign against the Iroquois in western New York. The New Hampshire legislature selected him as a delegate to the Continental Congress for one year to start in November 1780, against his wishes. Nonetheless, he accepted the position in order that New Hampshire be represented in the controversy concerning claims to Vermont under the New Hampshire Grants. Seated in September 1780 in the absence of other delegates from New Hampshire, he ultimately resigned from the Congress and departed from Philadelphia in August 1781.

Returning home to New Hampshire, Sullivan was named the state's attorney general in 1782 and served until 1786. During this same time he was elected to the state assembly and served as speaker of the house. He led the drive in New Hampshire that led to ratification of the United States Constitution on June 21, 1788. He was elected President of New Hampshire (now Governor) in 1786, 1787 and 1789. Sullivan was nominated by President George Washington on September 24, 1789, to the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, to a new seat authorized by 1 Stat. 73. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 26, 1789, and received his commission the same day. Due to ill health, he did not hold court after 1792, but retained his judicial seat. His service terminated on January 23, 1795, due to his death at his home in Durham. He was interred in the family cemetery in Durham.