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Michael Baldwin was a Democratic-Republican politician from the Northwest Territory and later the U.S. State of Ohio who helped write the first constitution of the state and was a legislative leader during early statehood. He was also a United States Attorney, United States Marshall and university trustee.

"His dissipation alone denied him fame in his adopted state."

- Daniel J. Ryan

Youth
Michael Baldwin was born August 26, 1774 in New Haven, Connecticut, a son of Michael and his second wife, Theodora (Wolcott) Baldwin. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and settled in New Haven so his children could attend Yale. His half-brother was Abraham Baldwin, his brother was Henry Baldwin, and his half-sister, Ruth, married Joel Barlow. After his father died in 1787, Abraham assumed responsibility for Michael's education, and Michael graduated from Yale University and received a license to practice law in Pennsylvania in the 1790s.

Move to frontier
In 1799, Baldwin came to Chillicothe Northwest Territory with letters of introduction to community leaders Nathaniel Massie and Thomas Worthington. He was admitted to practice law, and soon had a practice in the town second only to William Creighton, Jr. He also “Speedily developed his uncontrollable love of liquor, fun, and frolic.”

Statehood battle
Howe vol iii p. 192-193

Admitted to the bar 1799. Brother of Henry Baldwin of the US Supreme Court. Gilmore in his sketches of the bar gives this "He was a member of the First Constitutional Convention, and it is common tradition that he wrote almost the whole of our first constitution in the bar-room of William Key's tavern, using a wine keg for a seat and the head of a whiskey barrel for a writing table. When the Burr expedition failed, Aaron Burr advised Blennerhassett to retain for their council Judge Jacob Burnet of Cincinnati, and Michael Baldwin of Chillicothe. He was speaker of the house for its first three years.

speaker first and third general assembly, p254 manual etc.

Vingt-et-un

William Creighton, Jr.

hist of ross county vol i p 165, 125-goes to DC

us attorney for district of ohio 1803-1804 fired 1804 by Jefferson for deriliction of duty. Promising career cut short by alcoholism. Later named U S Marshall for district.

at large district june 21, 1803 lost to jeremiah morrow

He was a trustee of Ohio University from 1805 to 1809.

ryan Hist of Ohio vol 3 p 91