Dwight Foster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromMassachusetts | |
| In office June 6, 1800 – March 3, 1803 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Dexter |
| Succeeded by | Timothy Pickering |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts | |
| In office March 4, 1793 – June 6, 1800 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Goodhue |
| Succeeded by | Levi Lincoln Sr. |
| Constituency | 2nd district (1793–95) 4th district (1795–1800) |
| 9thSheriff of Worcester County, Massachusetts | |
| In office 1792–1793 | |
| Preceded by | John Sprague |
| Succeeded by | William Caldwell |
| Member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office 1791–1792 | |
| In office 1808–1809 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1757-12-07)December 7, 1757 |
| Died | April 29, 1823(1823-04-29) (aged 65) |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse | Rebecca Faulkner |
| Relations | Theodore Foster Dwight Foster MA |
| Children | Alfred Dwight Foster |
| Alma mater | Brown University Harvard University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Dwight Foster (December 7, 1757 – April 29, 1823) was an American lawyer and politician fromMassachusetts. He served in theMassachusetts House of Representatives, theUnited States House of Representatives and theUnited States Senate.
Foster was born inBrookfield in theProvince of Massachusetts Bay, and attended the common schools in Brookfield. He graduated from theCollege in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (the former name ofBrown University) at Providence in 1774.[1] He then studiedlaw and was admitted to thebar association in 1778. He remained inRhode Island to practice law, beginning his law practice inProvidence. He received his master's degree fromHarvard University in 1784.[2]
After returning to Massachusetts, Foster held various positions in the government. He served asjustice of the peace forWorcester County from 1781 to 1823, as special justice of the court of common pleas in 1792, and as sheriff of Worcester County in 1792.[3] In 1791, he was elected as aFederalist candidate to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
He was elected as a United States House of Representatives to the3rd United States Congress in 1793, and was re-elected to the three succeeding Congresses, defeatingLevi Lincoln, Sr. each time. He served in Congress from March 4, 1793, until his resignation on June 6, 1800.[4] While in Congress, he was Chairman of theUnited States Senate Committee on Claims.
In 1799, he was a delegate to the State constitutional convention[5] and on June 6, 1800, he was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused bySamuel Dexter's resignation.[6] He served in the Senate until his resignation on March 3, 1803. He was a member of the State House from 1808 to 1809 and a member of theMassachusetts Governor's Council in 1818.[7]
In 1813 he was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.[8]
Foster died in Brookfield on April 29, 1823, aged 65.[9]
Foster's father wasMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court JusticeJedediah Foster, who graduated fromHarvard University in 1744.[10] Foster married Rebecca Faulkner on May 7, 1783, and they had one son, Alfred Dwight Foster.[11]
He was the brother of U.S. SenatorTheodore Foster,[12] and was the grandfather and namesake ofMassachusetts Attorney General andMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court JusticeDwight Foster MA.[13]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's 2nd congressional district 1793–1795 alongside:William Lyman,Theodore Sedgwick,Artemas Ward on ageneral ticket | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's 4th congressional district 1795–1799 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Massachusetts 1800–1803 Served alongside:Jonathan Mason | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
