Nathaniel Chipman

Nathaniel Chipman (November 15, 1752February 13, 1843) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Vermont and Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. A Yale College graduate and Continental Army veteran of the American Revolution, Chipman became a prominent attorney and advocate for Vermont statehood. When Vermont was admitted to the Union, he served as the first judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. After Vermont became the fourteenth state, Chipman became a leader of its Federalist Party. In addition to his legal and political work, Chipman authored several works on government and law, served for 28 years as Professor of Law at Middlebury College, and was a satirical poet. Education and career Chipman was born in Salisbury, Connecticut Colony, British America on November 15, 1752, a son of Samuel Chipman and Hannah (Austin) Chipman. Chipman was privately tutored, then began attendance at Yale University, from which he graduated in 1777. In January 1777, Chipman left Yale to volunteer for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and he received his diploma while he was serving. He was commissioned as an ensign in the 2nd Connecticut Regiment, and joined the army in Pennsylvania. He took part in the December 1777 Battle of White Marsh, and went into winter quarters with his unit at Valley Forge, where they remained until June 1778. Chipman was promoted to first lieutenant on December 29, 1777. Chipman through the summer of 1778, and resigned his commission at White Plains, New York on October 16, 1778.