Otis, James

(1725-1783), patriot and orator, was graduated at Harvard in 1743, and rose to the first place at the Boston bar. When the British Government adopted a stronger coercive policy with its Writs of A istance in 1761, Ottis opposed the mieasure in a celebrated speech. He was a member of the Ma achusetts Legislature, and published in 1764 an influential pamphlet entitled ‘Rights of the Colonies Vindicated.” He moved the appointment of a Stamp Act Congre , and was one of the delegates, and he made a spirited opposition to Town shend's acts. In 1769 he was severely beaten by some British officers and became insane for the remainder of his life. Otis ranks as one of the eloquent orators of the pre-Revolution period.