John Birdsall

John Birdsall (1802 Greene, Chenango County, New York – July 22, 1839 Houston, Republic of Texas) was an American lawyer and politician from New York and Texas.

He was the son of Maurice Birdsall (1774–1852) and Ann (Pixley) Birdsall (1778–1829). He married Ann Whiteside (1805–1833), and then Sarah Peacock (1816–1895).

He was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Mayville, New York.

He was Judge of the Eighth Circuit Court from 1826 to 1829.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Chautauqua Co.) in 1831.

He was a member of the New York State Senate (6th D.) from 1832 to 1834, sitting in the 55th, 56th and 57th New York State Legislatures. He resigned his seat on June 5, 1834.

In 1837, he removed to Houston, then the capital of the independent Republic of Texas, and resumed the practice of law there. The same year, he was appointed Attorney General of the Republic of Texas. In November 1838, he was appointed by President Sam Houston as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Collinsworth, but the Texas Congress did not confirm the appointment, and instead elected Thomas Jefferson Rusk a few days after Houston left the presidency. Neither Collinsworth nor Birdsall ever convened the Supreme Court, the first session was held in January 1840, with Rusk as Chief Justice.

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