Senator Elisha Mathewson

Elisha Mathewson (April 18, 1767 – October 14, 1853) was a United States senator from Rhode Island and a prominent early nineteenth-century public official in his home state. Born in Scituate, Rhode Island, he pursued an academic course in his youth, preparing himself for public life in a period when formal higher education was less systematized than in later generations. He established himself in his native community and became involved in local affairs, laying the groundwork for a career that would span both state and national service.

Before entering national politics, Mathewson engaged in agricultural pursuits in Scituate, reflecting the agrarian character of Rhode Island’s interior during his lifetime. He also served as a justice of the peace in Scituate, a position that placed him at the center of local judicial and civic matters. This role demonstrated the trust placed in him by his neighbors and provided him with practical experience in governance, law, and the administration of public business.

Mathewson’s national career began when he was elected to the United States Senate as a member of the Republican Party, also known at the time as the Democratic-Republican Party. He was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator James Fenner and took his seat on October 26, 1807. He served one full term, remaining in office until March 3, 1811. During this period, he represented Rhode Island in the Senate at a significant moment in American history, as the young nation grappled with international tensions, trade restrictions, and the events leading toward the War of 1812. As a senator, Mathewson participated in the legislative process and the broader democratic deliberations of the era, representing the interests of his Rhode Island constituents in the upper chamber of Congress.

After concluding his service in the United States Senate, Mathewson returned to Rhode Island and resumed his agricultural pursuits in Scituate. His commitment to public service, however, continued at the state level. In 1821 he served as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and, during that period, held the influential position of speaker of the House. The following year, in 1822, he was a member of the Rhode Island Senate, further extending his record of legislative service and reinforcing his role as an experienced and respected figure in state government.

In his later years, Mathewson remained rooted in the community where he had been born and had spent much of his life. He continued to live on and work his farm in Scituate, maintaining his ties to the land and local society. Elisha Mathewson died in Scituate on October 14, 1853. He was interred on his farm at the north end of Moswansicut Lake in Scituate, Rhode Island, a final resting place that reflected his lifelong connection to the town and its surrounding countryside.