Seneca Haselton | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From 1894's Men of Vermont Illustrated | |
| Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court | |
| In office 1908–1919 | |
| Preceded by | James Manning Tyler |
| Succeeded by | Leighton P. Slack |
| In office 1902–1906 | |
| Preceded by | John W. Rowell |
| Succeeded by | None (Size of court reduced) |
| Chief Judge of the Vermont Superior Court | |
| In office 1906–1908 | |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | George M. Powers |
| U.S. Minister to Venezuela | |
| In office 1894–1895 | |
| Appointed by | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Frank C. Partridge |
| Succeeded by | Allen Thomas |
| Mayor of Burlington, Vermont | |
| In office 1891–1894 | |
| Preceded by | William A. Crombie |
| Succeeded by | William J. Van Patten |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Burlington | |
| In office 1886–1887 | |
| Preceded by | Curtis A. Hibbard |
| Succeeded by | Henry Ballard |
| Judge of the Burlington, Vermont City Court | |
| In office 1878–1886 | |
| Preceded by | Milton R. Tyler |
| Succeeded by | William H. Hare |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 26, 1848 Westford, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | July 21, 1921 (aged 73) Burlington, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting place | Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Vermont University of Michigan Law School |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Seneca Haselton (February 26, 1848 – July 21, 1921) was a Vermont educator, attorney and politician. He is notable for his service as mayor of Burlington, Vermont (1891–1894), U.S. Minister to Venezuela (1894–1895), and an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court (1902–1906, 1908–1919).
A graduate of the University of Vermont and University of Michigan Law School, Haselton practiced law in Burlington beginning in 1875. A Democrat in an era when the Republicans controlled all facets of Vermont's statewide politics, Haselton found success at the local level, including terms as city court judge (1878–1886), member of the Vermont House of Representatives (1886–1887), and Burlington mayor (1891 to 1894). In 1894, Haselton was appointed U.S. Minister to Venezuela, and he served until 1895, when President Grover Cleveland requested his resignation as part of resolving a dispute between Haselton and the commander of the U.S. Navy's North Atlantic Squadron.
After serving as Reporter of Decisions for the Vermont Supreme Court (1900–1902), in 1902 he was appointed to the court as an associate justice. Haselton served until 1906, when the size of the Supreme Court was reduced. From 1906 to 1908, he served as Chief Judge of the newly created Vermont Superior Court. In what came to be a custom that lasted until the 1970s, the chief judge was chosen by seniority from the Superior Court judges, and advanced to the Supreme Court when a vacancy arose. In 1908, Haselton was reappointed to the Vermont Supreme Court. In December 1914, he was one of the justices who were not reappointed as part of a court reorganization plan; public outcry led to the plan being revoked in January 1915, and Haselton maintained his place as an associate justice until retiring in 1919.
Haselton never married or had children. He died in Burlington in 1921, and was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.