Nahum Mitchell (February 12, 1769 – August 1, 1853) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

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 1769 in the eastern portion of Bridgewater (which would later be incorporated as a separate municipality in 1823) in

Massachusetts Bay Massachusetts Bay is a bay on the Gulf of Maine that forms part of the central coastline of Massachusetts. Description The bay extends from Cape Ann on the north to Plymouth Harbor on the south, a distance of about . Its northern and sout ...

, Mitchell attended the local school. 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 1789. He studied law in

Plymouth, Massachusetts Plymouth ( ; historically also spelled as Plimouth and Plimoth) is a town in and the county seat of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. Located in Greater Boston, the town holds a place of great prominence in American history, folklor ...

. He was

admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...

and commenced practice in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1798–1802. Mitchell was elected as 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 ...

to the Eighth Congress (March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805). He was not a candidate for renomination. He was again a member of the State house of representatives in 1809 and 1812. He served as judge of the common pleas court 1811-1821 and chief justice 1819–1821. He served in the State senate in 1813 and 1814. He served as member of the Governor's council 1814–1820. State treasurer of Massachusetts 1822–1827. Librarian in 1835 and 1836 and treasurer 1839-1845 of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Mitchell's love for music began early, was leader of the church choir and a teacher of music in East Bridgewater. One of his pieces was performed in the World's Columbian Exposition concerts in Chicago in 1893. He was also one of the first

American composers American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

; his work sold more than 100,000 copies. He died in

, August 1, 1853. He was interred in Old Central Street Cemetery, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Publications

*''Grammar of Music'' published in the Boston "Euterpeiad" *''The Brattle Street Collection'' (Boston, 1810) *''The Bridgewater Collection of Sacred Music'' (Boston, 1812) * and a series of articles on the ''History of Music''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Nahum 1769 births 1853 deaths Harvard University alumni Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives State treasurers of Massachusetts People from East Bridgewater, Massachusetts Federalist Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts Librarians from Massachusetts 19th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives