Nicholas J. Sinnott
Encyclopedia
Nicholas John Sinnott was a Republican
politician from the state
of Oregon
. He served in the Oregon State Senate
, in the United States House of Representatives
, and on the now defunct United States Court of Claims
federal court.
, Wasco County, Oregon
, on December 6, 1870. His father, Colonel N. B. Sinnott, was the founder of the old Umatilla House in The Dalles, and his mother was Mary Brass Sinnott. Sinnott attended the public schools and Wasco Independent Academy in The Dalles. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame
in Indiana
in 1892. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1895 and began his practice in The Dalles. He remained in private practice there until 1912. In 1901, he married Dora Purcell, and they would have six children.
during the 1909 and 1911 sessions, representing Wasco County
as a Republican.
In 1912, Sinnott was elected as a Republican
to the 63rd United States Congress
, and was re-elected seven times. He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Sixty-sixth
through Seventieth
Congresses), and the Committee on Patents (Seventieth Congress). While in the House he worked to create and enlarge water reclamation projects in Eastern Oregon
.
On April 18, 1928, President Coolidge
appointed Sinnott as a judge of the United States Court of Claims in Washington, D.C.
. He resigned from the House effective May 31, 1928, and served on the Court until his death in Washington, D.C. on July 20, 1929. Sinnott was interred in St. Peters Cemetery in The Dalles. The Sinnott Memorial
observation station and museum at Crater Lake National Park
was dedicated in his honor on July 16, 1931.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He served in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
, in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, and on the now defunct United States Court of Claims
United States Court of Claims
The Court of Claims was a federal court that heard claims against the United States government. It was established in 1855 as the Court of Claims, renamed in 1948 to the United States Court of Claims , and abolished in 1982....
federal court.
Early life
Sinnott was born in The DallesThe Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
, Wasco County, Oregon
Wasco County, Oregon
Wasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for a local tribe of Native Americans, the Wasco, a Chinook tribe who lived on the south side of the Columbia River. In 2010, its population was 25,213...
, on December 6, 1870. His father, Colonel N. B. Sinnott, was the founder of the old Umatilla House in The Dalles, and his mother was Mary Brass Sinnott. Sinnott attended the public schools and Wasco Independent Academy in The Dalles. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in 1892. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1895 and began his practice in The Dalles. He remained in private practice there until 1912. In 1901, he married Dora Purcell, and they would have six children.
Political career
Sinnott served as a member of the Oregon State SenateOregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
during the 1909 and 1911 sessions, representing Wasco County
Wasco County, Oregon
Wasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for a local tribe of Native Americans, the Wasco, a Chinook tribe who lived on the south side of the Columbia River. In 2010, its population was 25,213...
as a Republican.
In 1912, Sinnott was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the 63rd United States Congress
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
, and was re-elected seven times. He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Sixty-sixth
66th United States Congress
The Sixty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1919 to March 4, 1921, during the last two years of...
through Seventieth
70th United States Congress
The Seventieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1927 to March 3, 1929, during the last two years of...
Congresses), and the Committee on Patents (Seventieth Congress). While in the House he worked to create and enlarge water reclamation projects in Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
.
On April 18, 1928, President Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
appointed Sinnott as a judge of the United States Court of Claims in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He resigned from the House effective May 31, 1928, and served on the Court until his death in Washington, D.C. on July 20, 1929. Sinnott was interred in St. Peters Cemetery in The Dalles. The Sinnott Memorial
Sinnott Memorial Observation Station
The Sinnott Memorial Observation Station is a sheltered viewpoint built into the caldera cliff 900 feet above Crater Lake in southern Oregon, United States. It is located near the Rim Village Visitor Center in Crater Lake National Park. The structure includes a small natural history museum with...
observation station and museum at Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is a United States National Park located in southern Oregon. Established in 1902, Crater Lake National Park is the sixth oldest national park in the United States and the only one in the state of Oregon...
was dedicated in his honor on July 16, 1931.