David Daggett

author

David Daggett

1764–1851

A prominent early American lawyer, judge, and politician, he helped shape public life in Connecticut and was one of the founders of Yale Law School. His career was influential and complicated, leaving a mark on law, education, and civic life in New Haven.

1 Audiobook

Count the Cost An Address to the People of Connecticut, On Sundry Political Subjects, and Particularly on the Proposition for a New Constitution

Count the Cost An Address to the People of Connecticut, On Sundry Political Subjects, and Particularly on the Proposition for a New Constitution

by David Daggett

About the author

Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1764, he graduated from Yale College in 1783, studied law, and built his career in New Haven, Connecticut. Over the years he served in the Connecticut legislature, represented the state in the U.S. Senate, became mayor of New Haven, and later served on Connecticut's highest court.

He is often remembered as one of the founders of Yale Law School and as a major public figure in early nineteenth-century Connecticut. Archival and reference sources describe him as a lawyer, jurist, politician, teacher, and author, reflecting the wide reach of his work.

His legacy is not simple. Modern historical accounts also note his opposition to plans for a college for African Americans and his role in legal actions connected to Prudence Crandall's school, making him a figure whose public achievements and harmful positions are both part of the historical record.