Richard Peters (Continental Congress)

Richard Peters (June 22, 1744 – August 22, 1828) was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Richard Peters
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
In office April 20, 1818 – August 22, 1828
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established by 3 Stat. 462
Succeeded by	Joseph Hopkinson
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania
In office January 13, 1792 – April 20, 1818
Appointed by	George Washington
Preceded by	William Lewis
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	Richard Peters June 22, 1744 Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania, British America
Died	August 22, 1828 (aged 84) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Resting place	St. Peter's Churchyard Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Relatives	Richard Peters Edward C. Peters
Education	University of Pennsylvania read law

Education and career

Born on June 22, 1744, at Belmont Mansion in Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania, British America,[1] Peters graduated from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) in 1761 and read law in 1763.[1] He entered private practice in Philadelphia from 1763 to 1771.[1] He served in the Continental Army as a captain in 1771.[1] He was a register of admiralty in Philadelphia from 1771 to 1776.[1] He was Secretary and member of the Continental Board of War from June 13, 1776, to June 8, 1781.[1] While serving on this board in 1779, he submitted to General George Washington draft designs for a national standard.[2] He was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation (Continental Congress) from 1782 to 1783.[1] He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1787 to 1790,[1] serving as Speaker.[3] He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1791 to 1792.[1]

Federal judicial service

Peters was nominated by President George Washington on January 12, 1792, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge William Lewis.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 13, 1792, and received his commission the same day.[1] Peters was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 20, 1818, to a new seat authorized by 3 Stat. 462.[1] His service terminated on August 22, 1828, due to his death at Belmont Mansion in Philadelphia.[1] He was interred in St. Peter's Churchyard in Philadelphia.[3]

Notable cases

Peters was a party in the Supreme Court of the United States cases, United States v. Richard Peters, District Judge,[4] and United States v. Peters.[5]

Belmont Mansion

Peter's home, known as "Belmont Mansion", still stands and is open as a museum. It is located at 2000 Belmont Mansion Drive in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, which was established around it.

Famous descendants

Peters' grandson Richard Peters migrated to the South, where he became a founder of Atlanta, Georgia. That Richard's son, Edward C. Peters, bought and then sold off for development the land that is now the southern half of Midtown Atlanta.

References

1. Richard Peters at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. Furlong, William Rea; McCandless, Byron (1981). So Proudly We Hail : The History of the United States Flag. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 117–118. ISBN 978-0-87474-448-4.
3. United States Congress. "Richard Peters (id: P000255)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
4. 3 U.S. 121 (1795) .
5. 9 U.S. 115 (1809)

Sources

• United States Congress. "Richard Peters (id: P000255)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Richard Peters at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Biographical sketch and portrait at the University of Pennsylvania
• Richard Peters at Find a Grave
• Belmont: The Residence of Judge Peters, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania