Richard Law (judge)

Richard Law ( born March 7, 1733 in Milford, Connecticut; † January 26, 1806 in New London, Connecticut ) was an American lawyer and politician, who participated as a delegate from Connecticut to the Continental Congress. Later he became a federal judge.

Richard Law grew up during the British colonial period and received a classical education. In 1751 he graduated at Yale College, after which he studied law, was admitted in January 1755 in the Bar and began to practice in Milford. From 1757 he worked in New London. He had his first political office in 1765 as a deputy in the Parliament of colonial Connecticut.

After the outbreak of the American Revolution Law 1776 was a member of the Council of Safety of Connecticut in May. In 1777 he was first sent by his state as a delegate to the meetings of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Between 1781 and 1782, he was given this mandate again. He held from 1776 to 1786 as a member of the advisory board of the governor, and from 1784 to 1806 as mayor of New London Other public offices. During this time he was also been a judge at the Connecticut Supreme Court (1784-1789) and from May 1786 the chief judge at the Superior Court of his state.

On September 24, 1789 Law was finally appointed by President George Washington to the judge at the Federal District Court for the District of Connecticut. This he remained until his death on January 26, 1806 in New London. He was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery there. His son Lyman Law and his grandson John Law were also politicians and belonged respectively to the House of Representatives of the United States.