Howell, David, 1747-1824.

David Howell was born in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey, on January 1, 1747, was a delegate from Rhode Island to the Continental Congress. He attended Eaton’s Academy in Hopewell, New Jersey, and graduated from Princeton College in 1766, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1768 and commenced practice in Providence, Rhode Island. He was a tutor at Brown University from 1766 to 1769, then a professor of natural philosophy from 1769 to 1779. He was a fellow of Brown University from 1773 to 1824. During his time at Brown, he served as secretary of the university from 1780 to 1806; professor of law from 1790 to 1824; and was acting president of the university in 1791 and 1792. He served as justice of the peace in 1779, then justice of the court of common pleas in 1780. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1785, and a justice of the State supreme court in 1786 and 1787. He served as attorney general of the State in 1789, and was a commissioner for settling the boundaries of the United States. At one point, he served as district attorney of Rhode Island. He was a judge of the United States District Court for Rhode Island from 1812 until his death in Providence on July 21, 1824. He is buried at the North Burial Ground in Providence.