Timothy Farrar (1788 - 1874)
Born at New Ipswich (NH); died at ?
Artist unknown (attr. Mr./Mrs. Shute)
Oil on canvas, circa 1833

Timothy Farrar was born at New Ipswich (NH). At the age of twelve he went to school at Andover (MA); he entered Dartmouth College in 1803 and graduated in 1807. Then he studied law with Daniel Webster, at Portsmouth. Farrar was admitted to the Rockingham County Bar at Exeter (1810).

Farrar practiced law at New Ipswich (1810 - 13), then moved to Portsmouth to practice law with Webster (1813 - 16). Webster moved to Boston; Farrar continued to practice law at Portsmouth until 1822, when he moved to Hanover. There he practiced law while also serving Dartmouth College as Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian.

Farrar was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas (1824), and he held this position until the Court was abolished (1833). Then he moved back to Portsmouth, practicing law until he was made Cashier of the state-chartered Exeter Bank (1836). When the charter expired (1844) Farrar moved to Boston, where he practiced law while pursuing literary and historical interests. He served as vice president and director of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society (1853 - 58).

Farrar wrote the Report of the Case of the Trustees of Dartmouth College against William H. Woodward, decided by the Supreme Court in 1819. He wrote the Review of the Dred Scott Decision, decided by the Supreme Court in 1857. He also wrote the Manual of the Constitution of the United States, in 1867. These three achievements make Timothy Farrar an important figure in the history of American jurisprudence.

References: Rev. Samuel Lee, "Timothy Farrar, LL.D. "New Hampshire Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 29 (July 1875), pp. 225ff.