 On July 4, 1841, President John Tyler IV, Gen. (1790–1862) appointed Fendall District Attorney for the District of Columbia.In 1844 he was dismissed when the Whig Party lost to the Democrats, and President James K. Polk (1795–1849) came into office.In 1849 President Millard Fillmore (1800–1874) re-appointed him to his former post and he served in this capacity until his resignation in 1853 during the Pierce administration.