Autographs
THREE James Hillhouse Autograph Notes Signed to James Madison when serving as both Secretary of State & President Dated: 1802, 1808 & 1810
JAMES HILLHOUSE (1754-1832). Revolutionary War Officer who commanded Patriot troops alongside Aaron Burr during the British Invasion of New Haven, Connecticut in 1779; was a Member of the U.S. Congress from CT., (1791-1796); Member of the U.S. Senate, (1796-1810) where he briefly served as "President Pro Tempore" of the United States Senate.
Lot of Three, Autograph Notes Dated: 1802, 1808 and 1810, Signed in accepting invitations to dinner to James Madison, while Madison serving as both Secretary of State, and later as President of the United States, with all three Signed (in the 3rd person) by, "Mr. Hillhouse".
James Madison served as Secretary of State in Thomas Jefferson's Cabinet (1801-1809). Two of these dinner invitation acceptances are made to James Madison as U.S. Secretary of State, and One is to James Madison while serving as President of the United States. This Lot of (3) Includes:
1. "Mr. Hillhouse will do himself the honor of dining with Mr. Madison on Friday next agreeably to his invitation. Feb. 17th, 1802". Addressed on the reverse to: "The Hon'ble Mr. Madison - Secretary of State". Measures 5" x 6". Choice Very Fine.
2. "Mr. Hillhouse will have the pleasure of dining with Mr. Madison on Thursday next agreeably to his invitation. Decr. 19th 1808. Measures 4.5" x 2.75". Choice Extremely Fine.
3. "Mr. Hillhouse will have the honor of dining with the President of the United States on Friday next agreeably to his Invitation. March 20th, 1810". Measures 4.25" x 2". Choice Extremely Fine.

Provenance: from the James Madison papers offered for sale in 1894 by Edward Boker Sterling, (1851-1925), a stamp, coin and autograph dealer of Trenton, NJ. Still housed in Sterling's original folder within his violet handstamp at bottom. (4 items)
James Hillhouse (October 20, 1754 " December 29, 1832) was an American lawyer, real estate developer, and politician from New Haven, Connecticut. He represented the state in both chambers of the US Congress. From February to March 1801, Hillhouse briefly served as President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate.
Hillhouse was born in Montville in the Connecticut Colony, the son of William Hillhouse and Sarah (Griswold) Hillhouse. At the age of seven, he was adopted by his childless uncle and aunt, James Abraham and Mary Lucas Hillhouse. He attended the Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, Connecticut, and graduated from Yale College in 1773. At Yale, he was a member of the Linonian Society. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1775, and practiced law in New Haven.
During the Revolutionary War, Hillhouse served as captain of the Second Company of the Governor's Foot Guard. During the successful British invasion of New Haven on July 5, 1779, he commanded troops alongside Aaron Burr, with Yale student volunteers.
Hillhouse was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1780 to 1785. He was a Member of the Connecticut council of Assistants from 1789 to 1790 and was elected as a US representative from Connecticut at large for the Second, Third, and Fourth Congresses and served from March 4, 1791, to his resignation, in the fall of 1796.
Elected as a US senator on May 12, 1796, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Oliver Ellsworth, Hillhouse was re-elected in 1797, 1803, and 1809, and he served from December 1796 to June 10, 1810, when he resigned. During the Sixth Congress he was President pro tempore of the Senate.
In 1803, Hillhouse and several other New England politicians proposed secession of New England from the union because of the growing influence of Jeffersonian Democrats, especially after the Louisiana Purchase, which would further diminish Northern and Federalist influence.
Hillhouse was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1813.
In 1814, he was a Connecticut delegate to the Hartford Convention, and he was treasurer of Yale College from 1782 to 1832.
He died in 1832 in New Haven and is interred at the city's Grove Street Cemetery.
Hillhouse made major contributions to the beautification of the city of New Haven. He was active in the drive to plant the elm trees, which gave New Haven the nickname of "Elm City." Hillhouse Avenue and James Hillhouse High School, in New Haven, are named after him.