Dwight Foster | |
---|---|
United States Senator from Massachusetts |
|
In office June 6, 1800 – March 2, 1803 |
|
Preceded by | Samuel Dexter |
Succeeded by | Timothy Pickering |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 4th district |
|
In office March 4, 1795 – June 6, 1800 |
|
Preceded by |
Henry Dearborn George Thatcher Peleg Wadsworth (general ticket) |
Succeeded by | Levi Lincoln Sr. |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd district |
|
In office March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 Serving with Theodore Sedgwick, Artemas Ward, and William Lyman (general ticket) |
|
Preceded by | Benjamin Goodhue |
Succeeded by | William Lyman |
9th Sheriff of Worcester County, Massachusetts |
|
In office 1792–1793 |
|
Preceded by | John Sprague |
Succeeded by | William Caldwell |
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
In office 1791–1792 1808–1809 |
|
Personal details | |
Born |
Brookfield, Massachusetts |
December 7, 1757
Died | April 29, 1823 Brookfield, Massachusetts |
(aged 65)
Resting place |
Brookfield Cemetery Brookfield, Massachusetts |
Political party | Federalist |
Spouse(s) | Rebecca Faulkner |
Relations |
Theodore Foster Dwight Foster MA |
Children | Alfred Dwight Foster |
Alma mater |
Brown University Harvard University |
Profession | Law |
Dwight Foster (December 7, 1757 – April 29, 1823) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts. He served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
Foster was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, and attended the common schools in Brookfield. He graduated from the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (the former name of Brown University) at Providence in 1774. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar association in 1778. He remained in Rhode Island to practice law, beginning his law practice in Providence. He received his Master's degree from Harvard University in 1784.
After returning to Massachusetts, Foster held various positions in the government. He served as justice of the peace for Worcester County from 1781 to 1823, as special justice of the court of common pleas in 1792, and as sheriff of Worcester County in 1792. In 1791, he was elected as a Federalist candidate to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
He was elected as a United States House of Representatives to the 3rd United States Congress in 1793, and was reelected to the three succeeding Congresses. He served in Congress from March 4, 1793, until his resignation on June 6, 1800. While in Congress, he was Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Claims.