Nicholas John Sinnott (December 6, 1870 – July 20, 1929) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States representative from Oregon from 1913 to 1928. He was later appointed by President Calvin Coolidge to be a Judge on the Court of Claims, serving from 1928 to 1929.

Nicholas J. Sinnott
Judge of the Court of Claims
In office
April 20, 1928 – July 20, 1929
Appointed byCalvin Coolidge
Preceded byFenton Whitlock Booth
Succeeded byThomas Sutler Williams
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oregon's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1913 – May 31, 1928
Preceded byWalter Lafferty
Succeeded byRobert R. Butler
Member of the Oregon State Senate
In office
1909–1913
Preceded byC. W. Hodson
Succeeded byRobert R. Butler
ConstituencyWasco County, Oregon
Personal details
Born
Nicholas John Sinnott

(1870-12-06)December 6, 1870
The Dalles, Oregon
DiedJuly 20, 1929(1929-07-20) (aged 58)
Washington, D.C.
Resting placeSt. Peters Cemetery
The Dalles, Oregon
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Notre Dame (A.B.)
read law

Education and career

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Sinnott was born on December 6, 1870, in The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon.[1] His father, Colonel N. B. Sinnott, was the founder of the old Umatilla House[vague] in The Dalles, his mother was Mary Brass Sinnott.[2] He attended the public schools and the Wasco Independent Academy at The Dalles.[1] He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1892 from the University of Notre Dame and read law with Alfred S. Bennett in 1895.[3] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in The Dalles from 1885 to 1912.[3] He served as a Republican member of the Oregon State Senate from Wasco County from 1909 to 1913, being elected in 1909 and 1911.[4][5]

Congressional service

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Sinnott was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives of the 63rd United States Congress and to the seven succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1913, until his resignation effective May 31, 1928.[1] He was Chairman of the United States House Committee on Public Lands for the 66th through 70th United States Congresses and of the United States House Committee on Patents for the 70th United States Congress.[1] While in the House he worked to create and enlarge water reclamation projects in Eastern Oregon.[2]

Federal judicial service

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Sinnott was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge on April 18, 1928, to a seat on the Court of Claims (later the United States Court of Claims) vacated by Judge Fenton Whitlock Booth.[3] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 20, 1928, and received his commission the same day.[3] His service terminated on July 20, 1929, due to his death in Washington, D.C.[3] He was interred in St. Peters Cemetery in The Dalles.[1]

Personal

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In 1901, Sinnott married Dora Purcell, and they would have six children.[2]

Honor

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The Sinnott Memorial Observation Station and museum at Crater Lake National Park was dedicated in Sinnott's honor on July 16, 1931.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e United States Congress. "Nicholas J. Sinnott (id: S000450)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  2. ^ a b c Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Sinnott, Nicholas John - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  4. ^ "Oregon Legislative Assembly (25th) 1909 Regular Session".
  5. ^ "Oregon Legislative Assembly (26th) 1911 Regular Session".
  6. ^ Reddell, Greg, "Sinnott Memorial Observation Station and Museum" Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Friends of Crater Lake National Park, Volume 7, No. 1, Crater Lake, Oregon, Winter 2002.

Sources

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oregon's 2nd congressional district

1913–1928
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the Court of Claims
1928–1929
Succeeded by