Choate, Rufus


Choate, Rufus

Rufus Choate was born October 1, 1799, in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1819 and was admitted to the bar in 1823.

In 1827 Choate served as a member of the Massachusetts Senate and from 1831 to 1834 he acted as a representative from Massachusetts to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was involved in the organization of the Whig Party in Massachusetts. He served as U.S. senator from Massachusetts from 1841 to 1845.

Choate continued his participation in politics by nominating Daniel Webster for the presidency in 1852 and by attending the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention in 1853. He is the author of the Discourse Commemorative of Daniel Webster.

Choate died July 13, 1859, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.