John Whitefield Hulbert (June 1, 1770 – October 19, 1831) was a U.S. Representative from

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

. Born in Alford in the

Province of Massachusetts Bay The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in New England which became one of the thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III and Mary II, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of Eng ...

, Hulbert completed preparatory studies. He graduated from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

in 1795. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Alford, Massachusetts, in 1797. He served as director of Berkshire Bank,

Pittsfield, Massachusetts Pittsfield is the most populous city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Pittsfi ...

. John W. Hulbert's father, Dr. John Hulbert, was also politically-minded. However, the two had almost completely opposite political inclinations. While John W. Hulbert was a

Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...

, Dr. Hulbert was an active participant in the

Shays' Rebellion Shays's Rebellion was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts and Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester in response to a debt crisis among the citizenry and in opposition to the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes on both in ...

. Having received his medical training in Sharon, Connecticut, he traveled across state lines during the period of unrest in order to raise awareness and recruit for the rebellion. Connecticut State authorities were notified of his operations, and Dr. Hulbert was arrested. The charges against him and his co-conspirators were dropped after the hawkish Massachusetts governor James Bowdoin was replaced by the more reconciliatory

John Hancock John Hancock ( – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot (American Revolution), Patriot of the American Revolution. He was the longest-serving Presi ...

. Hulbert was elected as a

to the Thirteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Daniel Dewey. He was reelected to the Fourteenth Congress and served from September 26, 1814, to March 3, 1817. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1816. He moved to

Auburn, New York Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States. Located at the north end of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in Central New York, the city had a population of 26,866 at the 2020 census. It is the largest city of Cayuga County, the ...

, in 1817. He represented Cayuga County as Member of the New York State Assembly in 1825. He resumed the practice of his profession. He died in

, October 19, 1831. He was interred in North Street Cemetery.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hulbert, John Whitefield 1770 births 1831 deaths Politicians from Berkshire County, Massachusetts New York (state) Federalists Members of the New York State Assembly Harvard University alumni Federalist Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts 19th-century members of the New York State Legislature 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives