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{{Short description|American judge (1670–1728)}}
{{info|'''This draft is part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Missing encyclopedic articles/United States judges and justices]].'''
{{Infobox officeholder
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{{Infobox judge
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-prefix =
| name = John French
| name = John French
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| nominator =
| nominator =
| appointer =
| appointer =
| predecessor = [[Jasper Yeats]]
| predecessor = [[Jasper Yeates (Colonial judge)|Jasper Yeates]]
| successor = [[David Evans (judge)|David Evans]]
| successor = [[David Evans (judge)|David Evans]]
| birth_date = 1670
| birth_date = 1670
| birth_place = [[Great Britain]]
| birth_place = [[Scotland]]
| death_date = {{Death date|1728|10|25}}
| death_date = {{Death date|1728|10|25}}
| death_place = [[New Castle, Delaware]]
| death_place = [[New Castle, Delaware]]
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| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
{{Short description|American judge}}


'''John French''' (1670 – October 25, 1728) was an American judge who served as a Justice of the Colonial [[Delaware Supreme Court]] from 1726 to 1727.
'''John French''' (1670 – October 25, 1728) was a Scottish-born colonial American judge who served as a justice of the Colonial [[Delaware Supreme Court]] from 1726 to 1727.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Though his exact date of birth is unknown, French was born about 1670 in [[Scotland]]. He emigrated to [[North America]] in 1703, settling in the colony of [[Delaware Colony|Delaware]]. Shortly afterwards, French was elected to the position of Delaware [[high sheriff]]. When Delaware was given its first separate assembly from [[Pennsylvania]], French was a member of it and later was its speaker. When a militia was requested from Pennsylvania and Delaware, the latter responded and he was given the position of [[Colonel]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88290837/the-morning-news/|newspaper=[[The News Journal|The Morning News]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=April 8, 1965|author=Wilson, W. Emerson|title=Col. John French was soldier, miller, jurist}} {{Open Access}}</ref>

French later became an [[ambassador]] between the colony of Delaware and local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. As sole ambassador, he helped signed a peace treaty in 1719 with the [[Mingo]], [[Shawnee]], [[Lenape|Delaware]], and Conawage Indians.<ref name="auto"/> When there were territory disputes between Delaware and [[Maryland Colony|Maryland]], French was appointed "Guardian of the Marches of the Province", and negotiated with agents of [[Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore|Lord Baltimore]].<ref name="auto"/> He also bought four acres of land along the [[Christiana River]], and opened a [[grist mill]], which, with his political positions, helped him become a wealthy individual, according to ''[[The News Journal|The Morning News]]''.<ref name="auto"/>

In 1717, [[Sir William Keith, 4th Baronet|Sir William Keith]] was appointed governor, and became good friends with French. Keith gave him positions as register of wills for [[New Castle County]] and justice of the peace.<ref name="auto"/>

When [[Patrick Gordon (governor)|Patrick Gordon]] was made a successor to Keith, French was given a position on the [[Delaware Supreme Court]] as top justice on July 25, 1726.<ref>{{Cite book|page=562|title=History of Delaware: 1609-1888|author=Scharf, John Thomas|date=1888|publisher=Richards, L. J.}}</ref> He was removed one year later, when documents were shown that alleged he made derogatory comments about the [[William Penn#Family|Penn Family]]. He died one year later, on October 25, 1728, in [[New Castle, Delaware|New Castle]].<ref name="auto"/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}



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{{succession box
{{succession box
|title=[[List of justices of the Delaware Supreme Court|Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court]]
|title=[[List of justices of the Delaware Supreme Court|Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court]]
|before=[[Jasper Yeats]]
|before=[[Jasper Yeates (Colonial judge)|Jasper Yeates]]
|after=[[David Evans (judge)|David Evans]]
|after=[[David Evans (judge)|David Evans]]
|years=1726–1727}}
|years=1726–1727}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:French, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:French, John}}
[[Category:1670s births]]

[[:Category:Justices of the Delaware Supreme Court]]
[[Category:1728 deaths]]
[[Category:People from colonial Delaware]]

[[Category:Scottish people]]

[[Category:Justices of the Delaware Supreme Court]]
{{Delaware-stub}}
{{US-state-judge-stub}}

:''This open draft remains in progress as of May 15, 2021.''

Latest revision as of 22:32, 28 August 2024

John French
Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court
In office
1726–1727
Preceded byJasper Yeates
Succeeded byDavid Evans
Personal details
Born1670
Scotland
Died(1728-10-25)October 25, 1728
New Castle, Delaware

John French (1670 – October 25, 1728) was a Scottish-born colonial American judge who served as a justice of the Colonial Delaware Supreme Court from 1726 to 1727.

Biography

[edit]

Though his exact date of birth is unknown, French was born about 1670 in Scotland. He emigrated to North America in 1703, settling in the colony of Delaware. Shortly afterwards, French was elected to the position of Delaware high sheriff. When Delaware was given its first separate assembly from Pennsylvania, French was a member of it and later was its speaker. When a militia was requested from Pennsylvania and Delaware, the latter responded and he was given the position of Colonel.[1]

French later became an ambassador between the colony of Delaware and local Native Americans. As sole ambassador, he helped signed a peace treaty in 1719 with the Mingo, Shawnee, Delaware, and Conawage Indians.[1] When there were territory disputes between Delaware and Maryland, French was appointed "Guardian of the Marches of the Province", and negotiated with agents of Lord Baltimore.[1] He also bought four acres of land along the Christiana River, and opened a grist mill, which, with his political positions, helped him become a wealthy individual, according to The Morning News.[1]

In 1717, Sir William Keith was appointed governor, and became good friends with French. Keith gave him positions as register of wills for New Castle County and justice of the peace.[1]

When Patrick Gordon was made a successor to Keith, French was given a position on the Delaware Supreme Court as top justice on July 25, 1726.[2] He was removed one year later, when documents were shown that alleged he made derogatory comments about the Penn Family. He died one year later, on October 25, 1728, in New Castle.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Wilson, W. Emerson (April 8, 1965). "Col. John French was soldier, miller, jurist". The Morning News – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware: 1609-1888. Richards, L. J. p. 562.
Political offices
Preceded by Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court
1726–1727
Succeeded by