John Bartow Prevost
Encyclopedia
John Bartow Prevost was the first judge of the Superior Court of the Territory of Orleans from 1804-1808.
. He was the son of James Marcus Prevost of Geneva, Switzerland and Theodosia Bartow who after the death of her husband in the British West Indies
in 1779 married Aaron Burr
. Burr, who would become Vice President of the United States
under Thomas Jefferson
raised Theodosia Bartow Prevost's two sons as his own.
Prevost married Frances Anna Smith on February 5, 1799; they had four children.
from 1801 to 1804, when President Thomas Jefferson
appointed him as one of three first judges of the Superior Court of the Territory of Orleans. Prevost served alone on that bench from November 5, 1804, for about two years, due to the death and refusal to take office of his fellow judges. In 1808, Prevost resigned from the bench and was replaced by Joshua Lewis
of Kentucky. Prevost practiced law in New Orleans for many years.
In 1818, Prevost was appointed by President James Monroe
as an American Commissioner to examine the state of Spanish
colonies in South America
. He was also tasked by Secretary of State
John Quincy Adams
with securing U.S. possession of the Oregon Territory
as reparations from the British
government for the War of 1812
as spelled out in the Treaty of Ghent
.
Prevost spent many years in Peru
and moved his family there, where his son married a Peruvian woman and had children. Prevost died in Peru on March 5, 1825.
Early life and family
Prevost was born on March 6, 1766 in Paramus, New JerseyParamus, New Jersey
Paramus is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 26,342. A suburb of New York City, Paramus is located between 15–20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan and approximately west of Upper Manhattan.Paramus is one of...
. He was the son of James Marcus Prevost of Geneva, Switzerland and Theodosia Bartow who after the death of her husband in the British West Indies
British West Indies
The British West Indies was a term used to describe the islands in and around the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire The term was sometimes used to include British Honduras and British Guiana, even though these territories are not geographically part of the Caribbean...
in 1779 married Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
. Burr, who would become Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
under Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
raised Theodosia Bartow Prevost's two sons as his own.
Prevost married Frances Anna Smith on February 5, 1799; they had four children.
Public service
Prevost was Recorder of New York CityRecorder of New York City
The Recorder of New York City was a municipal officer of New York City from 1683 until the early 20th century. He was at times a judge of the Court of General Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, and the New York Court of Common Pleas; Vice-President of the Board of Supervisors of New York...
from 1801 to 1804, when President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
appointed him as one of three first judges of the Superior Court of the Territory of Orleans. Prevost served alone on that bench from November 5, 1804, for about two years, due to the death and refusal to take office of his fellow judges. In 1808, Prevost resigned from the bench and was replaced by Joshua Lewis
Joshua Lewis (judge)
Joshua Lewis was a judge of the Superior Court of the Territory of Orleans and, after Louisiana became a state, the 1st Judicial District Court of that state.-Early life:...
of Kentucky. Prevost practiced law in New Orleans for many years.
In 1818, Prevost was appointed by President James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
as an American Commissioner to examine the state of Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colonies in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. He was also tasked by Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
with securing U.S. possession of the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
as reparations from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government for the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
as spelled out in the Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent , signed on 24 December 1814, in Ghent , was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
Prevost spent many years in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and moved his family there, where his son married a Peruvian woman and had children. Prevost died in Peru on March 5, 1825.