Clifford, Nathan, 1803-1881

Nathan Clifford; b. August 18, 1803, Rumney, New Hampshire; d. July 25, 1881, Cornish, Maine; American statesman, diplomat and jurist, whose career culminated in a lengthy period of service as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

US Congressman, Presidential Cabinet Secretary, US Diplomat, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Represented first ME's 2nd District, then the 3rd District in the House of Representatives, serving from 1839 to 1843. Appointed as US Attorney General in the administration of President James K. Polk, serving from 1846 to 1848. Appointed as US Minister to Mexico in 1848, and negotiated the treaty which made California part of the United States. Served in this post from 1848 to 1849. Appointed as an Associate Supreme Court Justice in 1858, serving from then to his death. In 1877 he was appointed as President of the electoral commission that was convened to investigate and settle to disputed 1876 election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden (and which ultimately gave the election to Hayes)