Francis Dana

Francis Dana (* June 13, 1743 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, † April 25, 1811 in Cambridge, Massachusetts) was an American lawyer and politician.

Career

Francis Dana graduated in 1762 from Harvard College. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and then began in 1767 in Boston to practice. Dana was also politically active. He was a delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1774. He then spent two years in England, where he tried to clean up the differences between Britain and the American colonies. After his return, he worked 1776-1780 as State Council (State Councilor ). He was also the 1777-1778 Member of the Continental Congress and signed in that capacity on July 9, 1778 Articles of Confederation.

On September 28, 1779, he was selected to accompany John Adams to Paris, who was there as a delegate to negotiate a peace treaty with Great Britain and a trade treaty with Holland. On 19 December 1780, he was appointed ambassador to Russia; However, he was never there. Dana was 1784 again a delegate to the Continental Congress. After that, he was 1785-1791 Judge at the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. On November 29, 1791, he was the successor of Nathaniel Peaslee Sargent to the Supreme State judges ( Chief Justice ) appointed and held this position for 15 years. During this time he took part in the 1788 Constituent Assembly, which adopted the U.S. Constitution. He was also one of the founders of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Dana died in 1811 in Cambridge and was buried at the Old Cambridge Cemetery.