Choate

Choate, Rufus, was born at Essex (then Ipswich), Massachusetts, U.S.A., in 1799. He was educated at Dartmouth college and the law school of Cambridge, and started in practice at Danvers, afterwards settling in Boston. He soon made himself a name as a powerful advocate. Elected to Congress, and later on to the Senate, he devoted himself for five years to public affairs. In 1845, however, he returned to his practice with great success, and was regarded as one of the ablest speakers in America. In 1858 his health broke down, and he died very suddenly at Halifax, whither he had gone on his way to Europe.