SEDGWICK, an American family, distinguished in politics, law, and literature.—TirEo Done SEDGWICK, statesman and jurist, was b. at Hartford, Conn., May, 1746. He was, descended from Robert Sedgwick, a maj.gen. of the army of Cromwell. Educated at Yale college, lie adopted the profession of law, and removed to the western part of Mas sachusetts, where he was a member of the colonial assembly. Though a loyalist in feeling, at the outbreak of the American revolution he took the part of his country, and served as an aid-de-camp to gen. Thomas in the unfortunate expedition to Canada. In 1785 he settled at Stockbridge, Mass., where his descendants now reside, became a member of the continental congress, and took an active part in suppressing Shay's rebellion, He remained in congress as representative or senator until 1799, and in 1802 was appointed judge of the supreme court of Massachusetts, and was a prominent mem ber of the old federalist party, and an early opponent of slavery. Ile (lied at Boston, Jan. 24, 1813.—TIMODORE SEDGWICK, American lawyer and writer, son of the preceding, was b. at Sheffield, Mass., Dec., 1780. Like his father lie was bred to the legal profession, and in 1801 settled at Albany, N. Y., where he remained in successful practice until 1821. when he retired to Stockbridge, advocating, as a popular speaker, the interests of a scientific agriculture, free trade, temperance, and antislavery, and wrote Public and Private Economy, illustrated by Observations made in Europe in 1836-37 (3 vols. 121no, New York, 1838). He died of a stroke of paralysis, after making a public speech at Pitts field, Mass. Nov. 7, 1839.—SuSAN RIDLEY SEDOWICE, wife of the preceding, descended from an old English border family, and proud of her relationship to bishop Ridley-, was a daughter of William Livingston, governor of New Jersey. She is the author of The Morals of Pleasure (1829); The Young Emigrants, and The Children's Week (1830); Allan Prescott, a novel (1834); Alicia (1844); and Walter Thornby, a novel, written in 1859, when she was more than 70 years old.—CATHERINE MARIA SEDGWICK, American authoress, daughter of
judge Theodore Sedgwick, and sister of the second Theodore Sedgwick, was h. at Stock bridge, near the close of the eighteenth century. In 1822 she published A New England Tale, which was followed, in 1821, by Ridwood, a novel, so popular that it was reprinted in England, and translated into several of the continental languages. This was followed by Hope Leslie, or Early Times in America (1827); Clarence, a Tale of our Own Times (1830); Le Bossu, and The Linwoods (1835); and these by a series of popular stories, illus trating morals and domestic economy, entitled The Poor Rich Man and the Rich Poor Man: Live and let Live; Means and Ends; Home, etc.; and contributed a "Life of Lucre tia Maria Davidson," to Sparks's American Biographies. In 1841, on her return from Europe, she published Letters from Abroad to Kindred at Home; in 1845 TVilton Harvey and other Tales; followed by The Morals of Manners, and Married and Single. She also edited and was an active contributor to some of the leading American periodicals. Died July 31, 1867.—THEODORE SEDGWICK, an American lawyer, son Of the second Theodore Sedgwick, was b. at Albany Jan. 27, 1811, was educated at Columbia college, and admitted to the bar in 1833; and, excepting three years spent at Paris, as secretary of the American legation, continued in successful legal practice until 1850, when he again visited and made an extensive tour in Europe. He steadily declined to engage in politics, and refused all offices tendered him, until, in 1858, he accepted that of United States attorney for the southern district of New York. Among his writings are, a standard Treatise on the Measure of Damages; a work on The interpretation and Application of Statutory and Con stitutional Law; the Memoirs of William Livingston, his grandfather; The Life and Works of William Leggett, and various occasional addresses. Ile died at Stockbridge, :• 9, 1859.