Amasa Learned

American politician (1750-1825)

Amasa Learned

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Connecticut's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1795
Preceded by| Roger Sherman
Succeeded by| Chauncey Goodrich
Personal details
Born| (1750-11-15)November 15, 1750
Killingly, [Colony, British America
Died| May 4, 1825(1825-05-04) (aged 74)
New London, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party| Pro-Administration Party
Spouse| Grace Hallam Learned
Relations| John Law
Children| Nicholas H. Learned, Frances Learned Chew, Ebenezer Learned and Edward Learned
Parent(s)| Deacon Ebenezer Learned and Keziah (Leavens) Learned
Alma mater| Yale College
Occupation| Preacher, Lawyer, Politician

Amasa Learned (November 15, 1750 – May 4, 1825) was an American preacher, lawyer, and politician from New London, Connecticut. He served in the state's House of Representatives and represented Connecticut in the U.S. House from 1791 until 1795.

## Early life and career

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Learned was born in Killingly in the Connecticut Colony, the son of Deacon Ebenezer Learned and Keziah (Leavens) Learned. He was prepared for college by a private tutor and graduated from Yale College in 1772. Learned taught in the Union School in New London.[1] He studied theology, received a license from the Windham Association in October 1773, and preached for a short time before entering politics.[2]

While living in Killingly, Learned began the study of law in 1778. He was elected a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1779.[3] After moving to New London, he served again in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1785 to 1791. He was a member of the convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States in 1788.[4]

Learned was elected to the upper house of assistants in 1791,[5] and simultaneously served as a judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors from 1791 to 1792.[6] He was elected as a Pro-Administration candidate to the Second and Third Congresses, serving from March 4, 1791, to March 3, 1795; he was also the runner-up for another of Connecticut's at-large congressional districts in a December 1790 special election, losing to Jeremiah Wadsworth.[7][8] He engaged in land speculations while serving in Congress.

After serving in Congress, he was a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1818.

## Death

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Learned died in New London on May 4, 1825.

## Personal life

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Learned married Grace Hallam in 1773. They had four children.

Learned's grandson, John Law, served as United States Representative from Indiana.[9]

## References

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1. ^ Caulkins, Frances Manwaring; Griswold, Cecelia (1895). History of New London, Connecticut: From the First Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1860. H. D. Utley. pp. 670.
2. ^ Clemons, Harry (1897). The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, Volume 3. Connecticut Magazine Company. p. 223.
3. ^ Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (1903). Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College: May 1763-July 1778. Holt. pp. 449.
4. ^ Trumbull, James Hammond (1901). Historical notes on the constitutions of Connecticut, 1639-1818: particularly on the origin and progress of the movement which resulated in the Convention of 1818 and the adoption of the present constitution. Case, Lockwood & Brainard company. p. 52.
5. ^ "Amasa Learned (1750-1825)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
6. ^ Day, Thomas (1809). Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Errors, of the State of Connecticut, in the years 1805, 1806, and 1807. Vol. 2\. p. xii-xiii.
7. ^ "Rep. Amasa Learned". Govtrack.us. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
8. ^ "A New Nation Votes". elections.lib.tufts.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
9. ^ "John Law (1796-1873)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 30, 2012.

## External links

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* Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
* Amasa Learned at Find a Grave
* The Political Graveyard
* Govtrack.us

U.S. House of Representatives

Preceded by

Roger Sherman

|  Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Connecticut's at-large congressional district
1791–1795  | Succeeded by

Chauncey Goodrich

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* United States

People|

* US Congress