Peleg Sprague (Maine politician)

Peleg Sprague (April 27, 1793 – October 13, 1880) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Maine, and a United States federal judge.

Biography

Born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, Sprague graduated from Harvard University in 1812, and studied law in Litchfield, Connecticut. He was admitted to the bar in August 1815 and began practice in Augusta, Maine. In 1817, he moved to Hallowell, where he continued his practice.

Sprague's political career began when he served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1821 to 1822. In 1823, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's fourth congressional district, serving from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1829, when he became a member of the United States Senate. Sprague continued to serve in the Senate until January 1, 1835, when he again resigned. Sprague then practiced law in Boston from 1836 to 1841. He was a presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1840.

On July 15, 1841, Sprague was nominated by President John Tyler to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated by John Davis. Sprague was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 16, 1841, and received his commission the same day. Sprague's service was terminated on March 13, 1865, due to resignation.

Sprague died in Boston in 1880. He is buried in the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. Sprague was a corporate member of the Maine Historical Society.

References

• Peleg Sprague (Maine politician) at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

• Peleg Sprague (Maine politician) at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.