Benjamin Franklin Butler (lawyer)
- For the 19th century United States politician and general, see Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)
| Benjamin Franklin Butler | |
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| 12th United States Attorney General | |
| In office November 15, 1833 – July 4, 1838 |
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| President | Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren |
| Preceded by | Roger B. Taney |
| Succeeded by | Felix Grundy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 17, 1795 Kinderhook Landing, Columbia County, New York |
| Died | November 8, 1858 (aged 62) Paris, France |
| Spouse(s) | Harriet Allen |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature | _Signature.svg){kind=small} |
Benjamin Franklin Butler (December 17, 1795 – November 8, 1858) was a lawyer, legislator and Attorney General of the United States.
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[edit] Early life
He was the son of Medad Butler and Hannah Butler (née Tylee), of Kinderhook Landing, in Columbia County, New York. He studied at the Academy in Hudson, New York, and read law with Martin Van Buren. Butler was admitted to the bar in 1817, and became Van Buren's partner. Francis Wellman, in his book The Art of Cross-Examination, regarded Butler as one of the most successful cross-examiners of his day (p. 233). In 1818, he married Harriet Allen.
[edit] Political career
Butler was one of the earliest members of the Albany Regency. He began his political career as district attorney of Albany County, serving from 1821 to 1824. He was appointed one of the three commissioners to revise the State statutes in 1825. Butler was a member from Albany County of the New York State Assembly in 1828. In 1833, he served as commissioner for New York to adjust the New Jersey boundary line. On November 15, 1833, President Andrew Jackson appointed Butler Attorney General, an office he held until 1838. From that year until 1841, and from 1845 to 1848, he was United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
[edit] Legacy and death
Butler was instrumental in founding New York University in 1831 and served in various capacities with the university from its inception. He was made principal professor at the New York University in 1837.
While visiting Europe in 1858, he died in Paris, France. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.
Fort Butler, one of the main forts built for the forced removal of the Cherokee Indians on the Trail of Tears, was named for him.[1]
He was the grandfather of Sir Alfred Allen Booth, Bt, a director of Alfred Booth and Company and chairman of Cunard.
[edit] References
- ^ Riggs, Brett H.; Duncan, Barbara (2003). Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press in association with the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. p. 189. ISBN 0807854573.
[edit] Further reading
- Thomas, Gordon L. (1959). "Benjamin F. Butler, prosecutor". Quarterly Journal of Speech (Published on behalf of the National Communication Association 95th Anniversary in 2009) 45 (3): 288–298. ISSN 0033-5630.
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by Roger B. Taney |
United States Attorney General Served under: Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren 1833–1838 |
Succeeded by Felix Grundy |
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