Alexander Addison (1758–1807) was the first judge appointed to the position of president

judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...

of the Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania-the area encompassing most of Western Pennsylvania of the newly formed United States of America.

Background

Addison was born in Scotland in 1758. At age 19, he earned his Master of Arts at Aberdeen University. After his University education he was educated to become a minister and admitted to the Aberlowe Presbytery in 1781. Afterwards, he immigrated to the United States in 1785. He was not able to obtain a license from the Redstone Presbytery to become a minister. He became a lawyer in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1787 and was elected to the bar at that time. In 1791, he became the president judge of the Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania and possessed authority over both state and federal laws. Addison was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1791. Westward expansion at this time created new legal questions about the tax on whiskey, land ownership and battles with Native Americans. This was to be important during the Whiskey Rebellion during which he upheld the authority of state and federal laws over Western Pennsylvania. He owned land in Washington county and 620 acres in Donegal Township, and 500 acres in Franklin Township.

Writings

Addison wrote extensively with other jurists. He was

impeached Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In ...

due to disagreements with Justice John B.C. Lucas in 1802. He was a regular contributor to ''

The Pittsburgh Gazette The ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', also known simply as the PG, is the largest newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Descended from the ''Pittsburgh Gazette'', established in 1786 as the first newspaper published west of the All ...

'' (forerunner of the '' Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'') expressing his opinions on the political events of the period. In his March 16, 1793 contribution, he describes President

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

Law practice

Addison practiced law during politically divisive issues in early America. These included the

1795 Events January–June * January – Central England records its coldest ever month, in the Central England temperature, CET records dating back to 1659. * January 14 – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Uni ...

Jay Treaty with Britain, Constitutional ratification, foreign policies, the 1796 Pinckney Treaty with Spain, and the Treaty of Tripoli and the Whiskey Rebellion of Western Pennsylvania. Addison represented Washington County in the formation of Pennsylvania's Constitution.

The Alexander Addison Papers

Alexander Addison letter to Hugh Brakenridge September 3 1798

The Alexander Addison Papers were donated to the University of Pittsburgh in 1918 by

Edith Darlington Ammon Edith Dennison Darlington Ammon (1862–1919) was the youngest child of William and Mary Carson Darlington. She was an amateur photographer who, with her brother O'Hara Darlington, took the 154 images that are now included in the Darlington Coll ...

and Mary Carson Darlington. The papers were originally part of the William M.

Darlington Collection The Darlington Collection is extensive collection of rare documents, maps, and other historical material focusing on early American history, particularly that of Western Pennsylvania. The original material is housed by the Archives Services Center ...

. The collection includes correspondence between to Alexander Addison and Hugh Henry Brackenridge,

William Findley William Findley (c. 1741 – April 4, 1821) was an Irish-born farmer and politician from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He served in both houses of the state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House from 1791 until 1799 and ...

and

Charles Nisbet Charles Nisbet (January 21, 1736 – January 18, 1804) was a Scottish-American academic and churchman, and the first Principal of Dickinson College. Life Charles Nisbet was born in Haddington, Scotland on January 21, 1736, the son of William Ni ...

. Most of the collection contains discussions on political events in the United States and Europe, the

Constitutional Convention Constitutional convention may refer to: * Constitutional convention (political custom), an informal and uncodified procedural agreement *Constitutional convention (political meeting), a meeting of delegates to adopt a new constitution or revise an e ...

, the Jay and Pinckney Treaties, battles with Native Americans wars, and the Whiskey Rebellion. Much of the material is typed transcriptions. Addison was asked to write for the periodical Pittsburgh Gazette by Brackenridge.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Addison, Alexander 1758 births 1807 deaths Scottish emigrants to the Thirteen Colonies American lawyers People of the Whiskey Rebellion People of colonial Pennsylvania Activists from Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives and Collections Burials at Allegheny Cemetery Impeached United States judges removed from office by state or territorial governments