Thaddeus S. Sharretts

Thaddeus Stevens Sharretts (November 11, 1850 – February 26, 1926) was a Member of the Board of General Appraisers.

Biography

Sharretts was born on November 11, 1850, in Montgomery County, Maryland. He attended Columbian University in 1874. He worked as a grocer in Baltimore. He served as a United States Appraiser for the Port of Baltimore from 1886 to 1890. He served as United States High Commissioner to China from 1901 to 1902.^[1]

Federal Judicial Service

On July 30, 1890, President Harrison nominated Sharretts to serve as a Member of the newly created Board of General Appraisers. He was confirmed by the Senate on July 30, 1890 and received his commission the same day. He served on the board until he was removed from office by President Taft on March 3, 1913. He was succeeded on the board by Judge Jerry Bartholomew Sullivan.^[2]

Circumstances of his removal from office

Sharretts' removal from office followed an investigation by a commission appointed for the purpose and consisting of Assistant Attorney General Winfred T. Dennison, Collector of the Port of New York William Loeb and law officer of the Bureau of Insular Affairs Felix Frankfurter future Supreme Court Justice. Sharretts had been accused of seeking preferential treatment from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in return for steering freight shipments to the railroad. The commission determined on February 13, 1913 that while Sharretts did not commit an illegal act, his behavior undermined the high judicial standards expected of his office. On March 3, 1913, President Taft upheld the commission's decision and removed Sharretts from office.^[3]

Death

Sharretts died on February 26, 1926, in Baltimore, Maryland.^[4]

References