Tristram Dalton

Tristram Dalton
United States Senator from Massachusetts
In office March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1791
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	George Cabot
Personal details
Born	(1738-05-28)May 28, 1738 Newburyport, Massachusetts
Died	May 30, 1817(1817-05-30) (aged 79) Boston, Massachusetts
Political party	Pro-Administration
Alma mater	Harvard University
Profession	Law

Tristram Dalton (May 28, 1738 – May 30, 1817) was an American politician who served as a Senator from Massachusetts.

Early life

Dalton was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He attended Dummer Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard College in 1755. Afterwards, he studied law and was admitted to the bar, but did not practice, instead pursuing a career as a merchant. He later served as a delegate from Massachusetts to the convention of committees of New England provinces, which met in Providence, Rhode Island on December 25, 1776. He was a charter member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1780.

Career

Dalton served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1782 to 1785, and served as speaker in 1784.

He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1783 and 1784, but did not attend. He served as a Massachusetts state senator from 1785 to 1788, and was appointed to the United States Senate in 1788. He served from March 4, 1789 to March 4, 1791. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1790.

Later life

He served as surveyor of the port of Boston from November 1814 until his death on May 30, 1817. He is interred in the churchyard of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport.

Legacy

Tristram Dalton is the namesake of Dalton, Massachusetts, Dalton, New Hampshire and Dalton, Georgia.

References

• United States Congress. "Tristram Dalton (id: D000013)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.