James Mercer (jurist)
Encyclopedia
James Mercer also known as William James Mercer, was born in Virginia at Malborough plantation on February 26, 1736. He was the son of John Mercer
and Catherine Mason Mercer. He graduated from the College of William and Mary
about 1755.
He served as a captain in the French and Indian War and was commander of Fort Loudoun in Winchester, Virginia, in 1756.
and became a member of the House of Burgesses in 1765. In 1774, he was a member of the general assembly. He was an American
lawyer and jurist who served as a delegate for Virginia
to the Continental Congress
in 1779.
He was appointed a judge of the general court in 1780 and became a judge on the first Court of Appeals as a result. In 1789, he was appointed as a member of the reorganized Court of Appeals
. He remained on the bench of that court until his death in Richmond on October 31, 1793.
Mercer was the brother of George Mercer
and John Francis Mercer
, and father of Charles Fenton Mercer.
John Mercer (colonial lawyer)
John Mercer was a colonial American lawyer, land speculator, and author.Born in Dublin, Ireland, he came to Virginia in 1720 where he built the colonial estate Marlborough...
and Catherine Mason Mercer. He graduated from the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
about 1755.
He served as a captain in the French and Indian War and was commander of Fort Loudoun in Winchester, Virginia, in 1756.
and became a member of the House of Burgesses in 1765. In 1774, he was a member of the general assembly. He was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and jurist who served as a delegate for Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1779.
He was appointed a judge of the general court in 1780 and became a judge on the first Court of Appeals as a result. In 1789, he was appointed as a member of the reorganized Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of Virginia
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that go through the Court of Appeals of Virginia. It is one of...
. He remained on the bench of that court until his death in Richmond on October 31, 1793.
Mercer was the brother of George Mercer
George Mercer (military officer)
George Mercer was an American surveyor, military officer, and politician from Virginia....
and John Francis Mercer
John Francis Mercer
John Francis Mercer was an American lawyer, planter, and politician from Virginia and Maryland. Born in 1759 in Marlborough, Stafford County, Virginia, to John Mercer and Ann Roy Mercer, he graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1775 and was a delegate for Virginia to the Continental...
, and father of Charles Fenton Mercer.