15 Facts About Nathan Dane

Nathan Dane was an American lawyer and statesman who represented Massachusetts in the Continental Congress from 1785 through 1788.

Nathan Dane wrote a multi-volume treatise that covered the entire subject of American law, which enabled him to help fund the development of Harvard Law School.

Nathan Dane's father Daniel Dane was a farmer, and his mother's name was Abigail.

Nathan Dane worked on the family farm in Ipswich until he turned twenty.

Nathan Dane was admitted to the bar and set up a legal practice in Beverly in 1782.

Nathan Dane's hearing was poor throughout his career, and steadily got worse.

Nathan Dane said that he feared violence and social upheaval if the Constitution were not ratified, and he supported ratification with the understanding that there would be later amendments, which eventually came to be known as the United States Bill of Rights.

Nathan Dane was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate in 1788 and 1790.

Nathan Dane was later elected to the Massachusetts State Senate from 1790 to 1791 and again from 1794 to 1797.

Nathan Dane helped establish the American Temperance Society to discourage use and abuse of alcoholic beverages.

Nathan Dane was a member of the Federalist Party and its Essex Junto.

The Massachusetts legislature appointed him as a delegate to the Hartford Convention during the War of 1812, which damaged his reputation, although Nathan Dane saw himself as a voice of moderation at the Convention and maintained that he did not have any secessionist intentions: "Someone must go to prevent mischief," he said.

Nathan Dane was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1816.

Nathan Dane used the substantial proceeds from the Abridgement to provide an endowment for a law school at Harvard University, specifying that the first Nathan Dane Professorship of Law would go to his old friend Joseph Story.

Nathan Dane died at home in Beverly and was buried in the Central Cemetery there.