255:, Wolcott was one of the Connecticut Republicans that the administration consulted on appointments. In July 1801, Jefferson appointed him as collector of customs as Middletown, a position that was worth $ 3,000 at the time and which he held until his death. Pierpont Edwards had insisted that Wolcott was brought in to replace the previous collector of customs, described as "a violent, irritable, priest-ridden, implacable, ferocious federalist".
145:
383:
ratification, the
British made a policy of selling their goods at a loss. Such economic strategy harmed budding American manufacturers who might attempt to sell to the European markets. This caused a commercial depression in the United States from 1815 to 1818. In 1816, a tariff was brought in, which
273:
In 1806, Wolcott caused a scandal by accusing
Federalists of having "priests and deacons, judges and justices, sheriffs and surveyors, with a host of corporations and privileged orders, to aid their elections." He went on to say: "Let it be known that plain men, without titles or hope of offices, can
322:
Opposition to
Wolcott's nomination centered on two main reasons: his strict enforcement of controversial non-intercourse and embargo acts as customs inspector and his lack of qualifications. Due to lack of judicial experience, Wolcott was widely believed to be unqualified and incapable of serving in
308:
already in
January 1811. Despite being confirmed by the Senate, Lincoln refused the honor. Madison's decision to nominate Wolcott was taken for primarily political reasons. Although Wolcott was recognized as a leader among Republicans, and Lincoln supported his nomination, many others criticized
384:
aided manufacturers, although some New
England cotton and wool manufacturers remained discontented. The Connecticut Society for the Encouragement of Manufactures was formed during this depression. Wolcott took a leadership position, and was known as the "boss". Among its other leaders were
343:
in 1816. The committee voted on his nomination on
February 13, and later that day he was referred to the Senate floor, where he was rejected by a vote of 9—24. This was despite the Democratic-Republican Party having a 28 to 6 majority in the Senate.
359:. It had been rejected nine days after its receipt by the Senate. Prior to 1816, this was the longest period of deliberation by the Senate over a Supreme Court nominee, and the only one longer than seven days. After his rejection, Madison nominated
266:, who had also joined Tracy in accusing Wolcott of profligacy, Wolcott said, "If I am a profligate man, to prove it will not be difficult, nor to you an unpleasant task." Prior to elections in April 1804, a pamphlet, allegedly written by Federalist
196:. He had an elder half sister, Lydia Wolcott Austin (1737–1820) as well as two sisters – Esther Wolcott Treat (1749–1841) and Elizabeth Wolcott Wolcott (1763–1817) – and a brother, Guy Wolcott (1763–1823). The younger Alexander Wolcott attended
338:
Wolcott's nomination was received by the Senate on
February 4, 1811. It was referred to a select committee of three members, making him the only nominee referred to a committee prior to the creation of the
407:, a colleague of Wolcott, described him after his death as someone who "more than any other individual, deserves to be considered as the father and founder of the Jeffersonian school of politics ."
399:
in 1818. He sparked controversy at the convention by supporting the expulsion of any judge who declared a legislative act unconstitutional, effectively taking a position in opposition to
681:
611:
319:
decried his nomination by writing: "Oh degraded
Country! How humiliating to the friends of moral virtue – of religion and of all that is dear to the lover of his Country!"
219:
before becoming the federal Indian Agent for the Great Lakes region (as well as marry in 1823), but died in
Chicago not long after his father's demise in Connecticut.
278:
had been accused of libeling
Jefferson. With Pierpont Edwards as the judge, there were widespread accusations of bias, as both were fervent supporters of Jefferson.
335:, and other countries, from entering the US. It was extremely unpopular among merchants and farmers whose profits were significantly harmed by the law.
431:
Sons of the American Revolution of William H Higby of Streator, Illinois dated November 4, 1897 and citing Wolcott genealogy, available on ancestry.com
192:, on September 15, 1758, to Mary Richards Wolcott. His father, also Alexander Wolcott, was a medical doctor who assisted the Patriot forces during the
211:. They had two sons and two daughters. Their son, Alexander Wolcott Jr. (or III) (1790–1830), also attended Yale, became a surgeon's mate during the
676:
340:
258:
In the 1802 Connecticut elections, Wolcott was involved in a controversy where he was accused of profligacy by a close friend of his, Senator
555:
252:
323:
such an important judicial position. On the second point, Wolcott was criticized for his strict enforcement and support of the
503:
530:
392:, and Asher Miller, a close associate of the Governor. Its purpose was to advance manufacturers "in every legitimate way".
356:
294:
161:
315:
wrote that "Even those most acquainted with modern degeneracy were astounded at his abominable nomination." The
302:
287:
144:
686:
274:
do better than the mercenary troops of Federalism." In 1807, Wolcott was the prosecutor in a case in which
232:
160:(September 15, 1758 – June 26, 1828) was a United States politician, customs inspector, and nominee to the
396:
236:
228:
177:
90:
347:
Wolcott's nomination was only the second to have been rejected in US history, the one prior to it being
193:
489:
444:
251:, and Wolcott was among the leaders in Connecticut who were supporters of the campaign. After the
208:
79:
248:
646:
363:, who also passed in the Senate but turned down the appointment. The seat eventually went to
270:, accused Wolcott of striving "to destroy the state" and "unworthy of any trust or respect".
592:
Supreme Court Nomination, 1789-2006: Actions by the Senate, the Judiciary, and the President
671:
666:
189:
173:
53:
8:
483:
324:
20:
311:
216:
57:
640:
404:
385:
360:
352:
596:
305:
244:
240:
176:
by a vote of 9–24. He was later a delegate to the 1818 convention that drafted the
131:
400:
380:
298:
263:
169:
126:
61:
415:
Wolcott died on June 26, 1828. He is buried in Middletown's Mortimer cemetery.
660:
348:
290:
267:
201:
165:
243:
presidential campaign. The inaugural meeting took place at the residence of
200:, where he studied law and graduated in 1778. He went on to practice law in
389:
364:
197:
590:
376:
275:
259:
212:
301:. He had not been Madison's first choice, as he had nominated former
370:
395:
Wolcott led the delegation of Republicans to the convention on the
367:, who became the youngest person to have sat on the Supreme Court.
328:
642:
Historical notes on the constitutions of Connecticut, 1639-1818
332:
556:"Supreme Court Nominations Not Confirmed, 1789 to the Present"
595:. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service. pp.
445:"To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Wolcott, 18 March 1803"
682:
Unsuccessful nominees to the United States Supreme Court
327:. The law, passed under Jefferson, prevented goods from
215:
and then had a private medical practice in Boston and
207:
After marrying Frances Burbank in 1785, he settled in
565:. Congressional Research Service. August 20, 2010
371:Role in the 1815–18 depression and later politics
658:
222:
612:"Supreme Court Nominees Rejected by the Senate"
589:Rutkus, Denis Steven; Bearden, Maureen (2006).
531:"8 nominees who didn't go to the Supreme Court"
297:in 1811 to fill a vacancy left by the death of
588:
488:. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp.
281:
638:
609:
183:
677:United States Customs Service personnel
481:
659:
528:
239:in Connecticut formally organized the
610:Lawrence, Mark (September 15, 1987).
634:
632:
584:
582:
580:
485:Connecticut in Transition, 1775-1818
477:
475:
473:
471:
469:
467:
465:
439:
437:
492:, 232, 241, 247, 268–269, 273, 277.
410:
13:
162:Supreme Court of the United States
14:
698:
629:
577:
462:
434:
143:
529:Holzel, David (July 14, 2009).
16:American politician (1758–1828)
603:
548:
522:
496:
425:
1:
639:Trumbull, J. Hammond (1901).
418:
223:Political role in Connecticut
168:in 1811, to replace the late
19:For the American critic, see
504:"Battlefield: Supreme Court"
482:Purcell, Richard J. (1918).
309:Madison and his choice. The
235:from 1796 to 1801. In 1800,
233:Connecticut General Assembly
7:
645:. Hartford Press. pp.
397:Constitution of Connecticut
317:New-York Gazette Advertiser
229:Democratic-Republican Party
178:Constitution of Connecticut
10:
703:
341:Senate Judiciary Committee
253:1800 presidential election
194:American Revolutionary War
18:
286:Wolcott was nominated by
262:. In a letter to Senator
172:, he was rejected by the
151:
139:
122:
112:
96:
86:
69:
40:
35:
28:
351:'s rejection in 1795 as
282:Supreme Court nomination
209:Middletown, Connecticut
80:Middletown, Connecticut
563:www.everycrsreport.com
249:New Haven, Connecticut
237:Democratic-Republicans
227:Wolcott served as the
184:Early and family life
91:Democratic-Republican
190:Windsor, Connecticut
188:Wolcott was born in
174:United States Senate
687:Yale College alumni
325:Embargo Act of 1807
303:US Attorney General
21:Alexander Woollcott
312:Columbian Centinel
217:Vincennes, Indiana
51:September 15, 1758
405:John Milton Niles
386:Thomas Macdonough
381:Treaty of Ghent's
361:John Quincy Adams
353:George Washington
231:'s leader in the
204:and Connecticut.
158:Alexander Wolcott
155:
154:
30:Alexander Wolcott
694:
651:
650:
636:
627:
626:
624:
622:
607:
601:
600:
586:
575:
574:
572:
570:
560:
552:
546:
545:
543:
541:
526:
520:
519:
517:
515:
500:
494:
493:
479:
460:
459:
457:
455:
441:
432:
429:
411:Death and legacy
295:US Supreme Court
245:Pierpont Edwards
241:Thomas Jefferson
147:
135:
108:
103:
100:Frances Burbank
76:
50:
48:
36:Personal details
26:
25:
702:
701:
697:
696:
695:
693:
692:
691:
657:
656:
655:
654:
637:
630:
620:
618:
616:Washington Post
608:
604:
587:
578:
568:
566:
558:
554:
553:
549:
539:
537:
527:
523:
513:
511:
502:
501:
497:
480:
463:
453:
451:
449:Founders Online
443:
442:
435:
430:
426:
421:
413:
401:judicial review
373:
355:'s nominee for
299:William Cushing
284:
264:James Hillhouse
225:
186:
170:William Cushing
164:. Nominated by
129:
127:Yale University
117:
106:
104:
101:
87:Political party
78:
74:
63:
52:
46:
44:
31:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
700:
690:
689:
684:
679:
674:
669:
653:
652:
628:
602:
576:
547:
521:
510:. July 3, 2005
508:New York Times
495:
461:
433:
423:
422:
420:
417:
412:
409:
372:
369:
283:
280:
224:
221:
185:
182:
153:
152:
149:
148:
141:
137:
136:
124:
120:
119:
114:
110:
109:
98:
94:
93:
88:
84:
83:
77:(aged 69)
71:
67:
66:
42:
38:
37:
33:
32:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
699:
688:
685:
683:
680:
678:
675:
673:
670:
668:
665:
664:
662:
648:
644:
643:
635:
633:
617:
613:
606:
599:, 10, 14, 19.
598:
594:
593:
585:
583:
581:
564:
557:
551:
536:
532:
525:
509:
505:
499:
491:
487:
486:
478:
476:
474:
472:
470:
468:
466:
450:
446:
440:
438:
428:
424:
416:
408:
406:
402:
398:
393:
391:
387:
382:
378:
368:
366:
362:
358:
357:Chief Justice
354:
350:
349:John Rutledge
345:
342:
336:
334:
330:
326:
320:
318:
314:
313:
307:
304:
300:
296:
292:
291:James Madison
289:
279:
277:
271:
269:
268:David Daggett
265:
261:
256:
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
230:
220:
218:
214:
210:
205:
203:
202:Massachusetts
199:
195:
191:
181:
179:
175:
171:
167:
166:James Madison
163:
159:
150:
146:
142:
138:
133:
128:
125:
121:
115:
111:
99:
95:
92:
89:
85:
81:
73:June 26, 1828
72:
68:
65:
59:
55:
43:
39:
34:
27:
22:
641:
619:. Retrieved
615:
605:
591:
567:. Retrieved
562:
550:
538:. Retrieved
534:
524:
512:. Retrieved
507:
498:
484:
452:. Retrieved
448:
427:
414:
394:
390:Titus Hosmer
374:
365:Joseph Story
346:
337:
321:
316:
310:
306:Levi Lincoln
285:
272:
257:
226:
206:
198:Yale College
187:
157:
156:
75:(1828-06-26)
672:1828 deaths
667:1758 births
377:War of 1812
276:Azel Backus
260:Uriah Tracy
213:War of 1812
116:2 daughters
107:(1807–1828)
105:Lucy Waldo
102:(1785–1800)
58:Connecticut
661:Categories
419:References
375:After the
47:1758-09-15
621:March 16,
540:March 16,
514:March 16,
454:March 16,
288:President
140:Signature
123:Education
97:Spouse(s)
569:16 April
379:and the
113:Children
329:England
293:to the
64:America
62:British
54:Windsor
333:France
118:2 sons
82:, U.S.
559:(PDF)
623:2018
571:2023
542:2018
516:2018
456:2018
70:Died
41:Born
535:CNN
490:135
247:in
663::
647:54
631:^
614:.
579:^
561:.
533:.
506:.
464:^
447:.
436:^
403:.
388:,
331:,
180:.
132:BA
60:,
56:,
649:.
625:.
597:5
573:.
544:.
518:.
458:.
134:)
130:(
49:)
45:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
