Male

April 29, 1745

November 26, 1807

Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth (December 10, 1772)

Oliver Ellsworth was the son of Capt. David and Jemima Ellsworth. He was born on April 29, 1745 in Windsor, CT and went to Yale in 1762. He would eventually transfer to the College of New Jersey, later called Princeton. Oliver eventually turned to law where he established a flourishing practice.

By 1777, Oliver was Connecticut’s state attorney for Hartford County, further establishing his name as a successful lawyer and public figure. During the Revolution, Oliver Ellsworth was frequently involved in delegations to create a new nation. He represented Connecticut at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and made his presence known as a significant mediator to the sometimes stressful and chaotic debates. Arguably his biggest accomplishment at the convention was his work with the Great ...Compromise, which allowed the convention to make great progress to completion.

Oliver was selected as one of Connecticut’s first two Senators from 1789 to 1796. After serving as Senator, Oliver was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After retiring from public office, Oliver settled down again in Windsor where he died November 26, 1807.
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Political Office

“America’s Founding Fathers: Oliver Ellsworth,” The U.S National Archives & Records Administration, April 25, 2015.