Christopher Ellery

Christopher Ellery (November 1, 1768December 2, 1840) was a United States senator from Rhode Island. Born in Newport, he graduated from Yale College in 1787, studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Newport. He was clerk of the superior court of Newport County from 1794 to 1798. Early life and family Christopher Ellery was a nephew of William Ellery, a Continental Congressman from Rhode Island. In 1784, his daughter, Betsy, married Samuel Vernon. Slave voyage In 1788, Ellery financed a slave voyage aboard the brig Washington with Constant Tabor and prominent Newport slave trader Samuel Vernon, his son in law. The captain, William Gardner, purchased 200 enslaved Africans from the Gold Coast and then sailed to Martinique where he sold 165 people. Thus, 35 may have died on the voyage through the Middle Passage. Election history Ellery was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Ray Greene and served from May 16, 1801, to March 3, 1805. He was defeated for reelection in 1804 by James Fenner, the son of the Governor. Ellery was appointed by President Thomas Jefferson as United States commissioner of loans at Providence in 1806, and was appointed collector of customs at Newport, succeeding his uncle, holding that office from 1820 to 1834.