Historedia
Person

Oliver Ellsworth

Events
4
Episodes
7
Years
1787–1801

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Oliver Ellsworth, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Ellsworth motion to name the government the United States

    1787

    Role: Connecticut delegate to the 1787 Federal Convention

    1. 1787 (motion date legacy-only, unverified) · Federal Convention, PhiladelphiaAttributed motion to name the government the United States

      A legacy record attributes to Connecticut delegate Oliver Ellsworth a June 20, 1787 motion at the Philadelphia Federal Convention that the government be called the United States.

  2. Jay Treaty Document Dispute

    1795–1796

    Role: Chief Justice who wrote an advisory opinion rejecting any House right to decide the treaty's merits

    1. summer 1795 · Town hall meetings in PhiladelphiaAnti-treaty disorder in Philadelphia

      In summer 1795 Philadelphia town hall meetings turned to disorder, with rocks thrown, British officials harassed, and a treaty copy burnt.

    2. 1796 · U.S. House of RepresentativesHouse challenges the treaty and seeks a role in its approval

      Madison argued the commercial treaty could not take effect without House approval; Ellsworth's advisory opinion rejected any House right to judge the treaty's merits.

    3. April 29, 1796 · House of RepresentativesHouse funding impasse and passage

      After Ames's speech, the April 29, 1796 vote tied 49–49; Muhlenberg's surprise support produced a 51–48 result funding the treaty.

  3. Treaty of Mortefontaine

    1800–1801

    Role: American diplomatic commissioner to France

    1. September 30, 1800 · Mortefontaine (inferred from the treaty's name; no passage states the signing site)Signing of the Convention of 1800

      The United States and France signed the Convention of 1800, also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine, on September 30, 1800.

    2. December 21, 1801 · United States CongressDelayed Congressional Ratification

      Arguments over Clause II and unaddressed shipping-loss compensation kept Congress from ratifying the convention until December 21, 1801.

  4. John Marshall appointed Chief Justice of the United States

    1801

    Role: Former Chief Justice

    1. January 27 – February 4, 1801 · U.S. SenateSenate Confirmation of John Marshall

      The U.S. Senate confirmed John Marshall as Chief Justice on January 27, 1801, following his nomination by President Adams.

Sources

  1. Oliver Ellsworth Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-13
  2. Jay Treaty Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-27
  3. Convention of 1800 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-14
  4. John Marshall Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
  5. John Adams Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27