Hon. Phineas Bruce (June 7, 1762 – October 4, 1809) 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 ...

who was unable to serve in the U.S. Congress due to his declining health.

Biography

Phineas Bruce was born in Mendon 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 ...

on June 7, 1762. He received a classical education and was graduated from

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

in 1786. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1790 and commenced practice in Machias, Maine (then a district of Massachusetts). He served as member of the

Massachusetts House of Representatives The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from 14 counties each divided into ...

1791-1798 and in 1800. Bruce 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 commencing March 4, 1803 – 1805, but was prevented by illness from qualifying. He died in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, October 4, 1809 and was interred in the Old Burying Ground and later reinterred in Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruce, Phineas 1762 births 1809 deaths Members of the United States House of Representatives from the District of Maine Yale College alumni People from Uxbridge, Massachusetts Politicians from Worcester County, Massachusetts People from Machias, Maine Federalist Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives 18th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court