Samuel Cushman (1783 - 1851)
Born and died at Portsmouth (NH).
Lawyer, state and national legislator.
Portrait by Chester Harding.
Presented to the State, 1876.

Samuel Cushman attended Portsmouth common schools, studied law and was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar. He practiced law at Portsmouth, and served as Judge of the Portsmouth Police Court (dates unknown).

Cushman was appointed treasurer for Rockingham County (served 1823/8). He was elected to the State House of Representatives (served 1833/5). A strong Jackson Democrat, Cushman was nominated by Jackson to be United States District Attorney for the District of New Hampshire; but Cushman was not confirmed. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1834, however (served March 1835/9). While at Washington, Cushman was Chairman of the Committee on Commerce (1837/9). Later, under President James Polk, Cushman served as United States Naval Officer at Portsmouth (1845/9). He died in 1851.

References: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1775 - 1989 (1989); Who Was Who, 1607 - 1896 (1963).