Fisher Ames, one of the most eloquent of American statesman and
writers, was born at Dedham, in Massachusetts, April 9th, 1758, of
very respectable parents. Soon after the completion of his 12th year,
he was admitted to Harvard college, with the reputation of uncommon
talents and attainments. Diligence, regularity and success marked his
collegiate course of four years. After receiving his degree, in 1774,
the narrow circumstances of his widowed mother compelled him to
postpone, for several years, the accomplishment of his original
purpose of studying the law. In the interval, he acted as an assistant
teacher in a public school, and continued to cultivate classical
literature, to the signal improvement of his taste and fancy. At
length, in 1781, he commenced the practice of the law, with the stock
of knowledge which he had acquired in the office of a member of the
profession, in Boston. Opportunity soon occurred for the display of
his superior qualifications, both as a speaker and essay writer. The
fame which followed his early efforts conduced to place him in the
Massachusetts convention for ratifying the constitution, in 1788. From
this sphere, in which he made a deep impression by some of his
speeches, particularly that on biennial elections, he passed to the
house of representatives in the state legislature. Here, he soon
became so eminent as an orator and man of business, that the voters of
the Suffolk district elected him their first representative in the
congress of the U. States. He had not been long in that assembly
before his friends and admirers were satisfied that they had not
overrated his abilities. He won there the palm of eloquence, besides
proving himself equal to the discussion of the deepest subjects of
politics and finance, and the execution of the most arduous committee
labors. He remained in congress during eight years, the whole of
Washington’s administration, which he constantly and zealously
defended. ‘His speech on the British treaty,’ says his distinguished
biographer, doctor Kirkland, ‘was the era of his political life. For
many months, he had been sinking under weakness, and, though he had
attended the long and interesting debate on the question which
involved the constitution and the peace of the U. States, it was
feared he would be unable to speak. But when the time came for taking
a vote so big with consequences, his emotions would not suffer him to
be silent. His appearance, his situation, the magnitude of his
subject, the force and the pathos of his eloquence, gave this speech
an extraordinary power over the feelings of the dignified and numerous
assembly who heard it. When he had finished, a member in opposition
moved to postpone the decision of the question, that they might not
vote under the influence of a sensibility which their calm judgment
might condemn.’ On the retirement of Washington, Mr. A. returned to
his residence at Deadham, where he occupied himself with the
management of his farm and the practice of the law. The latter he
relinquished in a few years, owing to the decline of his health; but
he felt too deep an interest in the welfare of his country to withdraw
his mind and pen from politics. He published a considerable number of
essays, relating chiefly on the contest between Great Britain and
revolutionary France, as it might affect American liberty and
prosperity. No writer evinced more ardor for the success of Britain,
or more horror of the character and tendencies of the French
despotism. In 1804, Mr. A. was chosen president of Harvard
college,――an honor which he declined. When Washington died, Mr. A.,
then a member of council of the commonwealth, was appointed to
pronounce his funeral eulogy before the legislature of Massachusetts.
The injury which his constitution sustained in 1795 was never fully
repaired. From that period his health declined, until, at length,
after an extreme debility for two years, death ended his sufferings.
He expired July 4th, 1808; and, when the intelligence of this event
was received, a public meeting of citizens was held, in order to
testify the general respect for his character. His remains were
carried to Boston, where they were interred with honors such as had
not been before paid to those of any private citizen. In 1809, his
works were issued in a large octavo volume, with prefatory notices of
his life and character, from the pen of the reverend doctor Kirkland,
president of Harvard college, who had enjoyed his personal friendship
and intimacy. The volume is fraught with profound remarks, various
historical lore, and eloquent declamation. Although the political
interest of most of the topics is gone, there remains much to
captivate and reward attention in the richness of fancy, warmth of
feeling, beauty of language, and felicity of copious illustration,
which distinguish almost every page. Fisher Ames left seven children
and a wife, to whom he was tenderly attached. In person, he exceeded a
little the middle stature, was well-proportioned and perfectly erect.
His features and countenance were fine, and his manners easy and
affable. Of his delivery as an orator, his biographer states, that he
did not systematically study the exterior graces of speaking, but his
attitude was firm, his gesticulation natural and forcible, his voice
clear and varied, and his whole manner earnest and expressive.
According to the same authority, all the other efforts of his mind
were probably surpassed by his powers of conversation.