Wolcott, Alexander

Alexander Wolcott Soundex Code W423

Alexander Wolcott and Frances Wolcott, nee: Frances Burbank were the parents of Dr. Alexander Wolcott, Jr..

Alexander Wolcott (1758–1828) was a United States Customs Inspector and a nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States. A leader of the Democratic-Republican Party in Connecticut, he holds the dubious distinction of being defeated by the widest margin of any Supreme Court nominee in American history: 9–24.

He was nominated by President James Madison (1751-1836) to fill the late William Cushing's (1732-1810) seat in February 1811. President Madison's appointment of Alexander Wolcott to the U.S. Supreme Court was a tribute to Wolcott's political loyalty, not his legal acumen. He was unpopular because, while a United States customs inspector, he had robustly enforced the Embargo and Non-Intercourse Acts. He was also faulted as lacking legal and judicial experience.