| |
| |
|
| |
JAMES IREDELL
was born on October 5, 1751, in Lewes, England. He was
educated in England and in 1768 became Colonial Comptroller
of Customs in Edenton, North Carolina. While serving in
that position, Iredell read law and was admitted to practice
in 1770. In 1776, he resigned from his position with Customs
and joined the independence movement. When North Carolina
severed its ties with the British Crown, Iredell served
on a commission to redraft the state’s laws In 1778,
the Superior Court of North Carolina was created and Iredell
was named one of its three Judges. He resigned after a
few months because of the rigors of circuit riding and
resumed his law practice. He served as Attorney General
of North Carolina from 1779 to 1781. Under a new state
constitution, Iredell codified the laws of North Carolina.
In 1788, he served as floor leader of the Federalists
in the North Carolina Ratification Convention. On February
8, 1790, President George Washington nominated Iredell
to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Senate
confirmed the appointment two days later. Iredell served
for nine years on the Supreme Court and died on October
20, 1799, at the age of forty-eight. |
|
|
