Pitman, John

Born February 23, 1785, in Providence, RI
Died November 17, 1864, in Providence, RI

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
Received a recess appointment from James Monroe on August 4, 1824, to a seat vacated by David Howell; nominated to the same position by James Monroe on December 16, 1824. Confirmed by the Senate on January 3, 1825, and received commission on January 3, 1825. Service terminated on November 17, 1864, due to death.

Education:
Rhode Island College (now Brown University), A.B., 1799
Read law, New Hampshire, 1805
Read law, New York, 1806

Professional Career:

Private practice, New York City, 1806-1807
Private practice, Kentucky, 1807-1808
Private practice, Providence, Rhode Island, 1808-1812, 1820-1821
Private practice, Salem, Massachusetts, 1812-1816
Private practice, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1816-1820
U.S. attorney for the District of Rhode Island, 1821-1824

Manuscript Collections

Brown University
John Hay Archives
Providence, R.I.
John Pitman papers, ca. 1799-1864.
ca. 35 items; finding aid; collection contains letters to Pitman, his personal travel journals, a diploma, and various commissions and appointments.

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Mass.
Pitman, John, 1785-1864. Correspondence from Joseph Story and others, 1817-1869.
0.3 linear feet in 1 box; finding aid. The collection spans Pitman’s professional career, from just before his appointment as a federal judge in the U. S. District Court of Rhode Island to his death in 1864. The majority of the correspondence is of a professional nature, and the bulk of the collection comprises of letters from Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story. Additionally, there is correspondence to Pitman from Story’s successors on the Supreme Court – Levi Woodbury, Benjamin R. Curtis and Nathan Clifford.

Rhode Island Historical Society
Providence, R.I.
Pitman family papers, 1822-1933.
3 ft.; finding aid; collection includes John Pitman's correspondence and miscellaneous writings.

Portraits

John Pitman; artist unknown; Oil on canvas; ca. 1830-1845; The Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, ref. #: 1924.6.1.

John Pitman; by George Oliver Annibale; Marble bust; 1853; Providence Athenaeum, Providence, R.I.

John Pitman (1785-1864); by John Nelson Arnold; Oil on canvas; 1867; Brown University Portrait Collection, Brown University Library, Providence, R.I., ref. #: 1283.

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Pitman, John