James Elliot (August 18, 1775November 10, 1839) was an American soldier, lawyer, author and politician. A holder of local and state offices throughout his life, he was most notable for his service as a United States representative from Vermont. Elliot was born in Gloucester in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. His father died at sea while serving in the American Revolution, and Elliot's mother moved the family to New Salem, where he received his early education. He was indentured to a local farmer, and at age 15 moved to Guilford, Vermont to work as a store clerk. He served in the army during the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania and the Northwest Indian War, then returned to Vermont to study law and begin practice as an attorney. He later published a volume on his wartime experiences, which also included several poems and essays. During the early 1800s, Elliot served as Clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives. Nominally a Federalist, in 1802 he won election to the U.S House, where he served for three terms and became identified with many Democratic-Republican principles. After leaving Congress, Elliot edited newspapers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Worcester, Massachusetts, then returned to Vermont to resume practicing law. He served briefly in the War of 1812, and continued to hold local and state offices, including Clerk of Windham County, member of the Vermont House of Representatives, Windham County Register of Probate, and State's Attorney of Windham County. Elliot died in Newfane, Vermont on November 10, 1839, and was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro. Early life Elliot was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts on August 18, 1775, the son of James Elliot, a sailor, and Martha (Day) Elliot. His father died at sea of smallpox after enlisting to serve during the American Revolution, and his mother moved the family to New Salem, where she worked as a seamstress to support them. His mother provided his early education, including teaching him to read, and providing him works including the Bible and popular histories of colonial America and the early United States. As a boy, he was indentured to a farmer in Petersham, who supplemented Elliot's early education while he worked on the farm. Elliot later worked to improve his education through self-study, and worked in a variety of occupations including store clerk. Start of career He moved to Guilford, Vermont in 1790, where he clerked in a store