Quick Facts
Biography
George Moulton Carpenter, Junior (April 22, 1844 – July 31, 1896) was a newspaper reporter, lawyer, elected Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Providence Rhode Island and appointed as a United States District Judge for the District of Rhode Island.
Early life
Carpenter was born in Portsmouth, Newport county, Rhode Island on April 22, 1844 and is a descendant of the immigrant William Carpenter (1605 England - 1658/1659 Rehoboth, Massachusetts) the founder of the Rehoboth Carpenter family who came to America in the mid-1630s.
His father was George Moulton Carpenter (Sr.) (August 6, 1815 Rehoboth, Massachusetts - June 7, 1883 Providence county, Rhode Island) who was a Methodist Clergyman and afterwards an insurance agent. His mother was Sarah Lewis Walcott (January 27, 1821 Cumberland, Rhode Island - March 6, 1869 Providence county, Rhode Island). His parents were married on July 10, 1843 in Bristol County, Massachusetts. They had two children:
- George Moulton Carpenter, Jr. - the subject of this article
- Edmund Janes Carpenter (October 16, 1845 North Attleboro, Massachusetts - February 21, 1924 Milton, Massachusetts) was a Journalist, Author and Historian. He married and had six children.
George M. Carpenter, Jr. resided for some time in the locale of his birthplace. Then with his family he moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts where he attended the public schools of that city and afterwards finishing his common education at the grammar schools of Providence.
Carpenter graduated with honors from Brown University in 1864. While attending this university he was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
He was a Reporter for the Providence Evening Press and Providence Daily Journal from 1864 to 1867.
He was admitted to the Bar in 1867 and was in private practice in Providence, Rhode Island from 1867 to 1882.
Federal service
In April 1882 Carpenter was elected as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Providence. He resigned that position on 1 January 1885, and on the next day became United States District Judge for the district of Rhode Island. Carpenter was nominated by President Chester A. Arthur on December 16, 1884, to a seat vacated by LeBaron B. Colt. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 18, 1884, and received his commission the same day. Carpenter's service was terminated on July 31, 1896, due to death. This information is from the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges.
(Found with or without the letter G)
Untimely death
He died suddenly while on a European tour for his health in the seaside resort town of Katwijk aan Zee, South Holland, the Netherlands on July 31, 1896.
Carpenter had been involved in various historical subjects and projects. He had risen to the 33rd degree of Freemasonry and served as a Mason for over fourteen years before his death.
His interment was at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island on September 30, 1896.