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John Bird
Gender:
Male
Born:
November 22, 1768
Died:
February 2, 1806
Home Town:
Litchfield, CT
Later Residences:
Litchfield, CT
Troy, NY
Troy, NY
Marriage(s):
Sally Buel Bird (March 29, 1799)
Eunice Porter Bird (October 4, 1789)
Eunice Porter Bird (October 4, 1789)
Biographical Notes:
John Bird was born on November 22, 1768 in Litchfield, Connecticut to Dr. Seth Bird and Hannah Sheldon Bird. He was graduated from Yale College in 1786 and studied law at the Litchfield Law School in 1787; passing the bar in 1789. He practiced law in Litchfield until 1793 when he moved to Troy, New York. In New York, Bird served in the NY House of Representatives from 1796 to 1798. He was then elected to the United States Congress, where he served from 1799 to 1801. Bird's first marriage to Eunice Porter ended in 1797 when the Connecticut General Assembly granted Eunice a divorce on the grounds of ill treatment by her husband. Bird married second Sally Buel, the second daughter of David Buel of Troy, New York who had settled there after moving from Litchfield. Bird died on February 2, 1806.
Quotes:
"His son, although possessed of an active and vigorous mind, was not correct in his habits, and died early from dissipation. A short time previous to the death of his father, he made him a long visit. When he returned home, his father wrote him a faithful letter, reprimanding him for his dissipation, and admonishing him to reform. He showed the letter to his clergyman before he sent it, who inquired why he did not talk to his son when with him, rather than write him so soon after his return. With his accustomed gesture, he made this laconic reply, 'Paper cannot blush.'"
"Medical Reminiscences No. VIII.," S B W, The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal Apr 8, 1840.
"Medical Reminiscences No. VIII.," S B W, The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal Apr 8, 1840.
Education
Years at LLS:
1787
Other Education:
Graduated from Yale College in 1786.
Profession / Service
Profession:
Lawyer; Political Office
Admitted To Bar:
1789
Political Party:
Federalist
Federal Posts:
U.S. Representative (NY) 1799-1801
State Posts:
State Representative (NY) 1796-1798
Immediate Family (Why only immediate family?)
- Eunice Porter Bird
Wife - Sally Buel Bird
Wife - Seth Bird
Father - Hannah Sheldon Bird
Mother
The Citation of Attendance provides primary source documentation of the student’s attendance at the Litchfield Female Academy and/or the Litchfield Law School. If a citation is absent, the student is thought to have attended but currently lacks primary source confirmation. Records for the schools were sporadic, especially in the formative years of both institutions. If instructors kept comprehensive records for the Litchfield Female Academy or the Litchfield Law School, they do not survive. Researchers and staff have identified students through letters, diaries, family histories and genealogies, and town histories as well as catalogues of students printed in various years. Art and needlework have provided further identification of Female Academy Students, and Litchfield County Bar records document a number of Law School students. The history of both schools and the identification of the students who attended them owe credit to the early 20th century research and documentation efforts of Emily Noyes Vanderpoel and Samuel Fisher, and the late 20th century research and documentation efforts of Lynne Templeton Brickley and the Litchfield Historical Society staff.
CITATION OF ATTENDANCE:
Handwritten list o fnames on loose papers titled "prior to 1798," inside Catalogue of Litchfield Law School (Hartford, CT: Press of Case, Tiffany and Company, 1849).
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