WELLS, . John Sullivan, senator, born in Durham, New Hampshire, 18 October, 1803; died in Exeter, New Hampshire, 1 August, 1860. His mother was a niece of General John Sullivan. He studied law, teaching to support himself, was admitted to the bar, and practised for five years in Guildhall, Vermont, and after 1846 at Exeter, New Hampshire Mr. Wells filled various local offices, was for many years a member of the lower house of the legislature, serving in 1841 as its speaker, and was president of the state senate in 1852-'3. He was also attorney-general of the state in 1847. In 1854 he was Democratic candidate for United States senator, but was defeated by five votes on account of his approval of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. Shortly afterward he was appointed a United States senator to fill the vacancy that was caused by the death of Moses Norris, holding his seat from 22 January till 3 March, 1855. He was again a candidate in that year and in 1860. He was the Democratic candidate for governor in 1856-'7, and sat in two National conventions.--His brother, Samuel, jurist, born in Durham, New Hampshire, 15 August, 1801 ; died in Boston, Massachusetts, 15 July, 1868, was self-educated, became a lawyer, and in 1836-'7 sat in the Maine legislature. From 1847 till 1854 he was on the supreme bench of the state, and in 1855-'6 he was governor.