James Iredell
| James Iredell | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | |
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In office May 12, 1790 – October 20, 1799 |
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| Appointed by | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Moore |
| Attorney General of North Carolina | |
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In office July 8, 1779 – April 22, 1782 |
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| Governor |
Richard Caswell Abner Nash Thomas Burke |
| Preceded by | Waightstill Avery |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Moore |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 5, 1751 Lewes, Great Britain (now United Kingdom) |
| Died | October 20, 1799 (aged 48) Edenton, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Federalist |
James Iredell (October 5, 1751 – October 20, 1799) was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799. His son, James Iredell, Jr., became governor of North Carolina.
James Iredell was born in Lewes, England, the oldest of five surviving children of Francis Iredell, a Bristol merchant and his wife, the former Margaret MucCulloh of Ireland. The failure of his father's business (and health) impelled James to immigrate to the Colonies in 1767 at the age of 17. Relatives assisted him in obtaining a position in the customs service as deputy collector, or comptroller, of the port of Edenton, North Carolina.
While working at the customs house, Iredell read law under Samuel Johnston (later governor of North Carolina), began the practice of law and was admitted to the bar in 1771. The grandson of a clergyman, he was a devout Anglican throughout his life and his writings display an interest in spirituality and metaphysics beyond a simple attachment to organized religion.
In 1773, Iredell married Johnston's sister Hannah and the two had four children after twelve childless years. In 1774 he was made collector for the port.
Although employed by the British government, Iredell was a strong supporter of independence and the revolution. In 1774 he wrote To the Inhabitants of Great Britain in which he laid out arguments opposing the concept of Parliamentary supremacy over America. This essay established Iredell, at the age of 23, as the most influential political essayist in North Carolina at that time. His treatise Principles of an American Whig predates and echoes themes and ideas of the Declaration of Independence.
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