Roger Skinner

Roger Skinner
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
In office
November 24, 1819 – August 19, 1825
Appointed byJames Monroe
Preceded byMatthias B. Tallmadge
Succeeded byAlfred Conkling
United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York
In office
March 21, 1815 – November 23, 1819
Appointed byJames Madison
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byJacob Sutherland
Member of the New York State Senate from the Eastern District
In office
January 1, 1818 – December 31, 1821
Serving with Various (multi-member district)
Preceded byJames Cochran, Perley Keyes, Samuel Stewart, John J. Prendergast, George Tibbits, David Allen, Henry J. Frey, Ralph Hascall
Succeeded byLevi Adams, George Rosecrantz, Thomas Frothingham, Duncan McMartin Jr., Benjamin Mooers, David C. Judson, Daniel Shipherd, John L. Viele
Member of the New York State Assembly from Washington County
In office
January 1, 1808 – December 31, 1809
Serving with Alexander Livingston (1808-1809), Reuben Whallon (1808), Kitchel Bishop (1809-1809), James Hill (1808), John Gale (1809), Jason Kellogg (1809)
Preceded byKitchel Bishop, Thomas Cornell, Lyman Hall, James Hill, Henry Mattison, Gideon Taft
Succeeded byJohn Baker, John Richards, Isaac Sargent, Reuben Whallon, David Woods
Personal details
Born
Roger Skinner

(1773-06-01)June 1, 1773
Litchfield, Connecticut Colony, British America
DiedAugust 19, 1825(1825-08-19) (aged 52)
Albany, New York, US
Resting placeAlbany Rural Cemetery
Menands, New York, US
Political partyDemocratic-Republican
RelativesRichard Skinner (brother)
Mark Skinner (nephew)
ProfessionAttorney

Roger Skinner (June 1, 1773 – August 19, 1825) was an attorney and government official from New York. He was most notable for his service as United States district judge for the Northern District of New York from 1819 to 1825.

A native of Litchfield, Connecticut, Skinner was educated in Litchfield and trained for a career in the law by studying in the office of a local attorney. In addition to practicing law, Skinner began a career in government and politics when he served as clerk of the Litchfield County Probate Court from 1796 to 1806. He subsequently moved to Albany, New York, where he practiced law and became active in politics as a Democratic-Republican. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1808 to 1809.

Skinner later moved to Sandy Hill, where he practiced law and served as a justice of the peace and district attorney. From 1815 to 1819, he served as United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. From 1819 to 1821, he was a member of the New York State Senate. From 1819 to 1825, Skinner served as judge of the Northern District of New York.

A lifelong bachelor, as a judge Skinner shared an Albany home with attorney and politician Martin Van Buren, who was a widower. Skinner's health declined in 1825, and Van Buren nursed him during his final illness. He died in Albany on August 19, 1825. Skinner was initially buried at State Street Cemetery in Albany. He was reinterred in Van Buren's family plot at Albany Rural Cemetery in 1857.