Rhode Island Historical Society

ELLERY, Christopher, (nephew of William Ellery), a Senator from Rhode Island; born in Newport, R.I., November 1, 1768; graduated from Yale College in 1787; studied law; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Newport; clerk of the superior court of Newport County 1794-1798; elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Ray Greene and served from May 6, 1801, to March 3, 1805; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1804; appointed by President Thomas Jefferson as United States commissioner of loans at Providence, R.I., in 1806; appointed collector of customs at Newport 1820-1834; died in Middletown, R.I., on December 2, 1840; interment in Island Cemetery, Newport, R.I.