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se Acts； Otis was actuated not only by disinterested and patriotic motives； but by a statesmanlike discernment of their unconstitutional character and the wrong they would inflict； in being inconsistent with the foundation charter of the Massachusetts Colony。 Like many of the Revolutionary fathers； Otis was not at heart a rebel； or from the outset disloyal to the Crown in its administration of the affairs of the Colonies。 His occupancy of the Crown post of Advocate…General and his own well…known integrity and conscientiousness forbid that idea； not to speak of his pride in the fact that his ancestors were English and for generations had held high judicial offices and militia appointments in the gift of the King and the ministry of the period。 But though by tradition and training； at the outset of his career； a subject of monarchy and a true man in his official relations with England； Otis was at the same time ardent in his interests for the wellbeing of the Colonies and zealous for their rights and privileges。 When these came into conflict； the stand he took was staunchly patriotic； even to the sacrifice of his office and its emoluments； while in espousing the popular cause against the King and the ministry he stood forth； as John Adams expressed it； as 〃a flame of fire；〃 full of consuming zeal for his country and an ardent upholder of its rights and prerogatives。 In assuming this attitude； that Otis's zeal and energy were at times unrestrained and his language occasionally unguarded and overvehement； is doubtless true； but this was certainly excusable in a man of his ardent temperament and strength of character； while the situation of affairs was such as to call not only for patriotic enthusiasm； but for righteous indignation and heated denunciation； in a cause that stirred to the depths the heart and brain of an impetuous and commanding orator。 Nor do we well to forget what this consuming； patriotic passion and heated vindication of his country's rights cost Otis； in the responsibility he felt and the solicitation he manifested； especially in the middle and later stages of his strenuous career； for the cause he had so keenly at heart。 Pathetic is the story of the ailment that clouded his closing years； and only exculpatory can be the judgment now passed upon the man and his work when we consider what the strain was that he had long and anxiously borne and that revealed its effects in periods of sad mental alienation and incipient madness。 To speak and write strongly on taxation and its injustice； in the case of the Colonies； might well； however； disturb the mental equilibrium of even a strong man； and the more so when actively protesting； as Otis long continued to protest； against unlawful encroachments upon the liberties of the Colonies and the other arbitrary acts that then characterized the administration of the Crown。 Whatever it cost Otis personally to engage in this defence； the result； as we all now know and admit； was only and wholly beneficentin the defeat of an unrighteous autocracy； and the emancipation of a Continent from a fettering and baleful administration。
This herald of and actor in the great drama of his time was born at West Barnstable； formerly known as the Great Marshes； in Massachusetts； on the 5th of February； 1723。 He was one of thirteen children； his father being Colonel James Otis （born in 1702）； the son of Judge John Otis； whose immediate ancestor had emigrated from England in the preceding century and settled in New England at the town of Hingham； calling the region after the old home of the family in the Motherland。 This John Otis； who was born in A。D。 1657； became a prominent man in the Settlement； was a member of the Council of the Colony； and ultimately became Chief…Justice of the Common Pleas and Probate Court。 Otis's own father （Colonel James Otis） likewise became a lawyer and publicist； a colonel in the local militia； and rose to a high post in the judiciary and was a member of the Council of Massachusetts。 He married Mary Alleyne and transmitted to the future patriot； the subject of this sketch； the talents and many of the characteristics of his progenitors。 A brother of our hero； Samuel Alleyne Otis； rose to prominence in the politics of the State and as Secretary of the Senate administered to Washington the oath of office as President； holding the Bible on which he was sworn as honored chief of the future nation。 A sister； Mercy； an ardent and loyal patriot； married the notable republican； James Warren of Plymouth； and lived herself to write a compend of the 〃History of the American Revolution；〃 together with a collection of patriotic verse。
James Otis； whom we know as one of the most eloquent orators of the Revolutionary era and an ardent promoter of American independence； was educated for his career at Harvard； which institution he entered as a freshman in 1739； having previously been prepared for college by the Rev。 Jonathan Russell。 His university course； so far as can be gathered from any account of it that has come down to us； was not a notable one； though he had a fair scholastic career and graduated at the age of nineteen in 1743。 While popular after a fashion at college； he was a bit of a recluse and a diligent student of literature； with a predilection； it is said； for music； playing well on the violin。 After graduating； he wisely spent two years in general reading before entering upon the study of the law； which he did in 1745 under James Gridley； a prominent jurist of Massachusetts and sometime Crown Attorney…General。 Three years later； he was admitted to the bar； and in 1748 began to practice his profession at Plymouth； Mass。 In 1750； he removed to Boston； and there became known as an advocate of note and high promise； actuated by nice professional instincts； with a fine sense of honor； and keenly appreciating； it is recorded； his responsibilities in his relations with his clients； which led him to accept only such cases as he could conscientiously defend and take retainers from。
This characteristic scruple in the lawyer gave him a high standing in his profession； and naturally led to success at the bar； besides winning for him the respect and admiration of troops of warm and attached friends。
About this time he appears to have developed uncommon gifts as an orator； and his rather irascible nature gave scope to his keen wit and powers of sarcasm。 His extensive reading and ultimate study of good literary models naturally bore fruit in the practice of the forensic art and gave him prestige at the bar； as well as； later on； in taking to public life and to the advocacy of the rights of the Colonists in the controversy with the Crown。
In 1755； when he had attained his thirtieth year； Otis married Ruth Cunningham； the daughter of an influential Boston merchant。 The lady； from all accounts； was undemonstrative and devoid of her husband's patriotic ardor； traits that did not tend to domestic felicity or lead； on the wife's part； to a commanding influence over her vehement and somewhat eccentric husband。 The fruit of the union was one son and two daughters。 The son entered the navy； but unhappily died in his eighteenth year。 One of the daughters； the elder of the two； probably under the mother's influence； angered her father by espousing the English cause and marrying a Captain Brown； a British officer on duty at Boston。 The marriage was a source of irritation and unhappiness to Otis； who； after his son…in…law had fought and been wounded at Bunker Hill； withdrew with his wife to England； and was there disowned and cut off by the irate patriot； whose affection was also dried up for the erring daughter。 The younger daughter； on the other hand； was a devoted and patriotic woman； who shared her father's enthusiasm for the popular cause。 She married Benjamin Lincoln of Boston； but early became a widow。
By this time； Otis had become not only a man eminent in his profession in Boston； but a powerful factor in the public life of the city。 The New England commonwealth was then beginning to be greatly exercised over the aggressions of the Motherland； and this was keenly watched by Otis； who took a lively and patriotic interest in Colonial affairs。 Beyond his profession； which had closely engrossed him； he had heretofore taken little part in public life； his leisure； indeed； he had employed more as a student of books rather than of national affairs； as his work on the 〃Rudiments of Latin Prosody；〃 published in 1760； bears witness。 As the era of a conflict with England neared； he however altered in this respect； and became a zealous advocate of non…interference on the part of the Crown in the affairs of the Colonies and an ardent protester against English oppression and injustice。 Soon grievances arose in the relations between the Colonies and England which gave Otis the right to denounce the Motherland and excite dissaffection among the people of the New World。 These grievances arose out of the strained commercial relations between the two countries and the attempt of England to devise and enforce irritating schemes of Colonial control。 Of these causes of outcry in the New World the two chief were the revival and rigid execution of the English Navigation