Fontaine H. Pettis | |
|---|---|
 "A Piratical Attorney" Signal of Liberty, September 15, 1841 | |
| Born | Orange County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | May 24, 1858 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Burial place | Green-Wood Cemetery |
| Occupation(s) | Slave catcher, fraudster, attorney |
| Relatives | Spencer Pettis (brother) |
Fontaine H. Pettis (c. 1799? – May 24, 1858), often doing business as F. H. Pettis, was a 19th-century American fraudster and/or attorney who specialized in recovering fugitive slaves for enslavers prior to the American Civil War. Based in Philadelphia, and later New York City, he advertised his services in southern newspapers. He is classed by most historians of slavery as a Northern slave catcher or "slave taker" even though he boasted of being a native of Virginia. He was also likely something of a charlatan, accused of fraud in more than one circumstance, and convicted of perjury in Washington, D.C. in 1831. President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon to Pettis on the perjury charges, possibly due to political influence. Several surviving records suggest he periodically could not or would not pay his bills, and so he attempted to borrow money from wealthier acquaintances or, more often, simply defaulted on the obligation. Pettis also worked as a small-time salesman, advertising corn plasters for feet, and trying to sell a waterproofing process.