Ames, Fisher, 1758-1808

Massachusetts attorney elected to first four Congresses; Federalist and supporter of Hamilton's fiscal program.

From the description of ALS : Philadelphia, to Colonel Joseph Ward, Boston, 1791 Feb. 16. (Boston Public Library). WorldCat record id: 37601637

Member of the 1st-4th Congresses from Massachusetts.

From the description of ALS : New York, N.Y., to John Lowell, 1789 Apr. 8. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122645434

Lawyer and legislator, of Dedham, Mass.; U.S. representative (1st-4th Congresses) from Massachusetts; graduate of Harvard.

From the description of Autograph letter signed from Fisher Ames to Andrew Craigie, 1792. (Maine Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 166428460

American statesman and publicist.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Boston, to Thomas Dwight, 1792 Sept. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270131477

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to Nathaniel Appleton, 1791 Jan. 3. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270131704

Ames graduated from Harvard College in 1774. In 1787, he was a member of the Massachusetts Convention, which ratified the U.S. Constitution. A member of the Federalist party, he served as a congressman from Massachusetts from 1789-1797. From 1799-1801, he was a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council.

From the description of Letter to General Hardwick and Mr. Hinkley, 1789. (Harvard Law School Library). WorldCat record id: 235082534

Fisher Ames (1758-1808) was a lawyer and a prominent Federalist statesman from Massachusetts. Ames was born on April 9, 1758 in Dedham, Mass. He received an AB from Harvard in 1774 and an AM in 1777. Ames was admitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1781 and began practicing law in Dedham. In 1788, Ames served as one of Dedham's representatives to the Massachusetts convention to consider the United States Constitution, and in the same year was elected first to the Massachusetts General Court, and, in December, to the United States House of Representatives. Ames served in Congress from 1789 to 1797 as a staunch Federalist, and was well-known for his oratory skills. In 1806, the Harvard Corporation offered Ames the Presidency, but he declined due to his failing health. Ames died on July 4, 1808. Ames was to married Frances Worthington (1764-1837), and the couple had six sons and a daughter: John Worthington, Nathaniel, Hannah, William, Jeremiah, Seth, and Richard. Fisher Ames's sister, Deborah (b. 1747) married the Rev. Samuel Shuttleworth (1751-1834; Harvard AB 1777) (also spelled Shuttlesworth) on January 1, 1792.

From the description of Papers of Fisher Ames and the Ames and Fowler families, 1774-ca. 1900s. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 741449431

U.S. representative from Massachusetts.

From the description of Fisher Ames correspondence, 1789-1801. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79449645

Fisher Ames (1758-1808) was a statesman and publicist.

From the description of Letters, 1787-1795. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 191259107

American Federalist leader and political writer. He used the pseudonyms Lucius Junius Brutus and Camillus.

From the guide to the Fisher Ames letters, 1784-1806, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Massachusetts resident; Federalist leader.

From the description of Letters, 1790, 1801. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 31215123

Fisher Ames was a Massachusetts statesman and author of political tracts. He was educated at Harvard and studied law, and began publishing political essays commenting on current events. He was elected to Congress, where he established a reputation as the most anti-Republican Federalist of his day. His speeches and essays displayed intelligence, oratorical ability, and the most conservative stance in Congress. Poor health compelled his retirement, but he maintained vocal opposition to Jeffersonian democracy through a series of eloquently vituperative essays.

From the description of Fisher Ames letter and engraved portrait, 1796. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 58726270

Fisher Ames (1758-1808) was a lawyer and a prominent Federalist statesman from Massachusetts. He was one of five children of Deborah Fisher Ames and Nathaniel Ames, author of the successful Ames' Almanack.

Fisher Ames was born on April 9, 1758 in Dedham, Mass. He received an AB from Harvard in 1774 and an AM in 1777. Ames was admitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1781 and began practicing law in Dedham. In 1786, Ames wrote two series of letters to the Independent Chronicle, a Boston newspaper, assessing Shay's Rebellion, and became a Federalist spokesperson. In 1788, Ames served as one of Dedham's representatives to the Massachusetts convention to consider the ratification of the United States Constitution, and in the same year was elected first to the Massachusetts General Court, and, then in December, to the United States House of Representatives. Ames served in Congress from 1789 to 1797 as a staunch Federalist, and was well-known for his oratory skills. After retiring from Congress due to failing health, Ames continued to support the Federalist Party from his farm in Dedham. In 1806, the Harvard Corporation offered Ames the Presidency, but he declined due to his failing health. Ames died on July 4, 1808.

Ames married Frances Worthington (1764-1837) of Springfield, Mass. on July 15, 1792. The couple had six sons and a daughter: John Worthington, Nathaniel, Hannah, William, Jeremiah, Seth, and Richard.

Fisher Ames's sister, Deborah (b. 1747), married the Rev. Samuel Shuttleworth (also spelled Shuttlesworth) on January 1, 1792. Samuel Shuttleworth was born in Dedham in 1751, and he graduated from Harvard in 1777. He taught school in Dedham before moving to Windsor, Vermont in 1789. Shuttleworth preached in Windsor for a few years before practicing law in the town. Shuttleworth died in 1834. Following Deborah's death, Shuttleworth married Laura Benson, and their son, George (b. 1831), appears to have married Harriet Amelia Bayley (1833-1898), the great-granddaughter of General Jacob Bayley (1726-1815). Two of General Bayley's sons married sisters in the Fowler family: Ephraim Bayley married Hannah Fowler, and Joshua Bayley married Anna Fowler.

From the guide to the Papers of Fisher Ames and the Ames and Fowler families, 1774-ca. 1900s., (Harvard University Archives)