Oliver Ellsworth
Appointed by President George Washington in 1796 and confirmed by the Senate 21–1, Oliver Ellsworth was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Sources ↓
- Lived
- 1745–1807
- Appointed by
- George Washington, 1796
- Confirmed
- 21–1
- Education
- College of New Jersey (now Princeton) 1766
- Succeeded
- John Rutledge
- Succeeded by
- John Marshall
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1796 | Supreme Court succeeded John Rutledge | Washington (–) | 21–1 |
Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own.
Confirmation vote
The Senate’s published per-senator roll-call records begin in 1989, so no senator-by-senator breakdown is available for this vote.
Education
| College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) | B.A. | 1766 |
| Read law | 1771 |
Before the bench
Professional career before and outside the federal bench, as recorded by the Federal Judicial Center.
| Private practice, Windsor, Connecticut | 1771-1775 |
| State representative, Connecticut | 1773-1775 |
| Private practice, Hartford, Connecticut | 1775-1784 |
| State's attorney, Hartford, Connecticut | 1777-1785 |
| Delegate, Continental Congress | 1778-1783 |
| Member, Connecticut Council of Safety | 1779 |
| Member, Connecticut Governor's Council | 1784-1785, 1801-1807 |
| Judge, Connecticut Superior Court | 1784-1789 |
| Delegate, Federal Constitutional Convention | 1787 |
| U.S. senator from Connecticut | 1789-1796 |
| Minister plenipotentiary to France, U.S. Department of State | 1799-1800 |
Questions & answers
- Who appointed Oliver Ellsworth?
- President George Washington appointed Oliver Ellsworth to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1796.
- What was Oliver Ellsworth's confirmation vote?
- The Senate confirmed Oliver Ellsworth 21–1 on March 4, 1796.
- Which court was Oliver Ellsworth on?
- Oliver Ellsworth was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Sources
Each fact on this page traces to a primary public record.
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4 years on the Supreme Court of the United States. Data as of 2026-09-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).