Elijah H. Mills

Elijah Hunt Mills
Senior Senator, Massachusetts
In office June 12, 1820-March 3, 1827
Preceded by	Prentiss Mellen
Succeeded by	Daniel Webster

Born	December 1, 1776 Chesterfield, Massachusetts
Died	May 5, 1829 Northampton, Massachusetts
Political party	Federalist
Profession	Lawyer

Elijah Hunt Mills (1776-1829) was an American politician from Massachusetts.

Mills was born in Chesterfield, Massachusetts, on December 1, 1776. He was educated by private tutors and graduated from Williams College in 1797. Mills studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was the district attorney for Hampshire County, Massachusetts, and opened a law school in Northampton in 1823.

He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1811-1814). Mills was elected as a Federalist to the United States House of Representatives (March 4, 1815 - March 3, 1819). In 1819 he returned to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he became Speaker of the House in 1820. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1820 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Prentiss Mellen. Mills was reelected and served from June 12, 1820, to March 3, 1827. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1826. He retired from public life due to ill health.

Mills died in Northampton on May 5, 1829, and was interred in the Bridge Street Cemetery.

[edit] Legacy

Mills was the great-great-grandfather of future U.S. Senators Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. and John Davis Lodge.

Preceded by William Ely	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 5th congressional district March 4, 1815 - March 3, 1819	Succeeded by Samuel Lathrop
Preceded by Prentiss Mellen	United States Senator (Class 1) from Massachusetts June 12, 1820 - March 3, 1827 Served alongside: Harrison Otis, James Lloyd	Succeeded by Daniel Webster