Wiseman Claget was born in August 1721 in Bristol. After a local education he trained for the bar at Barnard's Inn, and was admitted to the Court of Kings Bench. He then went to Antigua where he was welcomed as a man of fortune. He was appointed public notary and secretary for the island and received an handsome annuity. Here he remained for several years before moving to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He soon was admitted to the Superior Court, and became a Justice of Peace. He acquired a reputation for strictness, and prospective litigants would threaten "I'll Clagett you!"
In 1767 he received the appointment of King's Attorney for the province. Prior to the revolution he moved to Litchfield where he had a substantial estate on the banks of the Merrimack river. He represented both Litchfield and the neighbouring town of Derryfield. When someone else was chosen for those towns, he represented the towns of Merrimack and Bedford, although he lived in neither town.
He was influential in framing the temporary form of government in New Hampshire, being the only person to fill the post of Solicitor General, which was abolished shortly before his death on December 4, 1784.
He was known as a great wit and classical scholar although he was also subject to bouts of depression.
