Peter Marshall Hitchcock[1] (October 19, 1781 – March 4, 1853[2]) was an attorney, teacher, farmer, soldier, legislator, and jurist.

Peter taught in a district school during the winter and worked on a farm in the summer to earn the money for his education.

He studied law with Barzillai Slosson (Yale 1791), of Kent, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1804 and commenced practice in Cheshire.

Hitchcock spent the early years improving his farm, establishing his law practice and teaching.

Peter Hitchcock was the first teacher at Burton Academy, which eventually became a part of Case Western Reserve University.

He was always accorded the most profound attention when arguing a case, whether to a jury, a Justice of the Peace or before the judges of the highest courts.

Peter Hitchcock was elected as a Democratic-Republican from Ohio's 6th congressional district to the Fifteenth United States Congress.

Judge Peter Hitchcock generally traveled the circuit on horseback or his own Yankee wagon.

In this capacity he contributed to reorganization of the judicial tribunals of the state, and still continued to discharge his duties on the bench.

As a good Whig, Judge Peter Hitchcock opposed it: It seems to me that the idea of giving to the governor a veto is inconsistent with our professions.

It implies also another fact, that we distrust our own qualifications to elect such men to do the business of the state as are worthy of being trusted.