Background
Parris was born in Hebron, Maine, then a part of Massachusetts. His father, Samuel, was from Massachusetts and has been one of the first settlers of the town following the American Revolutionary War.
governor judge lawyer politician representative senator
Parris was born in Hebron, Maine, then a part of Massachusetts. His father, Samuel, was from Massachusetts and has been one of the first settlers of the town following the American Revolutionary War.
He later studied law and was admitted to the bar, beginning practice in 1809 in Paris, Maine.
Parris served in many elected and appointed positions throughout this life, including state legislator, United States. Senator, the fifth Governor of Maine, state Supreme Court judge, and mayor. Parris entered Dartmouth College in 1803, graduating in 1806. In 1811, Parris became the Oxford County prosecutor.
On March 4, 1815, Parris began his term as a United States. Representative from Massachusetts, elected as a Democratic-Republican.
On January 27, 1818, Parris was nominated by President James Monroe to become a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine, the seat having been vacated by David Sewall. The appointment was confirmed by the United States Senate the next day, and Parris resigned from Congress on February 3, 1818, to assume his judgeship.
In 1819, Parris was a delegate to the Maine constitutional convention. He served as a judge until January 1, 1822, when he resigned to become the Governor of Maine.
Parris served as Governor until 1827.
That year, Parris was elected to the United States. Senate, serving from March 4, 1827, to August 26, 1828, when he resigned to become a judge on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Parris served as a Supreme Judicial Court judge until 1836, when he became the Second Comptroller of the Treasury. Parris served in this position until 1850.
In the fall of 1846, he served as one of the three commissioners negotiating a treaty at Washington, District of Columbia In 1852, Parris became the mayor of Portland, defeating Whig incumbent Neal South. Dowager
He did not seek reelection and launched an unsuccessful bid in 1854 as a Democrat to become Governor. He was defeated by Know Nothing candidate Anson Morrill.
He died at age 69 in Portland and was interred at the Western Cemetery. Removed to Evergreen Cemetery.
Democratic-Republican Party, Democratic Party.
From 1813 to 1814, Parris served in the State House. From 1814 to 1816 he was a member of the State Senate. In his later years he was an active member of the High Street Church and a Sunday School teacher.
