Serranus Clinton Hastings
Serranus Clinton Hastings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 1st district | |
| In office December 28, 1846 – March 3, 1847 | |
| Succeeded by | William Thompson |
| 6th Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court | |
| In office January 26, 1848 – January 14, 1849 | |
| Preceded by | George Greene |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan C. Hall |
| 1st Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court | |
| In office January 1850 – January 1852 | |
| Succeeded by | Henry A. Lyons |
| 3rd Attorney General of California | |
| In office January 1852 – January 1854 | |
| Preceded by | James A. McDougall |
| Succeeded by | John R. McConnell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 22, 1814 Watertown, Jefferson County, New York |
| Died | February 18, 1893 San Francisco, California |
| Nationality |  American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Azalea Brodt |
| Alma mater | Hamilton College |
| [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] | |
Serranus Clinton Hastings (November 22, 1814 – February 18, 1893) was a 19th century politician and a prominent lawyer in the United States, who established the Hastings College of the Law in 1878. He started his legal career as an editor for a newspaper in Indiana in 1835, and later became a lawyer in that state. In 1837, he became involved in the politics of the Territory of Iowa. He married Azalea Brodt in 1840 and they would later have nine children. When Iowa became a state in 1848, he was elected the state's first representative in the United States House of Representatives. After his term ended, he was appointed to be Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. After that he moved to California and was appointed Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, and later, Attorney General of California. He then devoted himself to the practice of law and became a well-known lawyer. In 1876, he donated $100,000 for the establishment of the Hastings College of the Law, also known as the Law Department of the University of California.[2]
Early life
Hastings was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York to Robert Collins Hastings and Patience Brayton.[1][6] After his father died in 1824, his family moved to St. Lawrence County, New York. He completed a preparatory course at Gouverneur Academy and graduated from Hamilton College.[1][2] In 1834, he became a principal and teacher at Norwich Free Academy, located in Chenango County, New York.[2]
In 1835, Hastings began having an interest in the law and moved to Lawrenceburg, Indiana where he completed a legal course.[1][6] He became an editor of the Indiana Signal, where he supported Martin Van Buren in his presidential campaign. He moved to Terre Haute, Indiana in December 1836 and was admitted to the practice of law by the Circuit Court.[2]
Career
In January 1837, Hastings moved to the Blackhawk Territory, which is now known as Iowa. He settled in Burlington for a short time, then moved to Bloomington, which is now part of Muscatine, Iowa.[2] In Bloomington he opened a law office. When Iowa became a territory in 1838, he got involved in the territory's politics, and won an election to be a member of the House of the First Legislative Assembly. He was re-elected the following year.[8] Later that year a border conflict with Missouri called the Honey War, took place. He received the military title of Major and helped capture a sheriff. No battle took place and the two states compromised on the border issue.[2][9] He married Azalea Brodt on June 10, 1840 in Muscatine, Iowa. They had two children while living in Muscatine, Marshall and Clara L.[6] He was elected to the council that year as well, and served on it for the Third, Fourth, and Seventh Assemblies. In 1845, Hastings was elected President of the Council for the Eighth Assembly. During his time on the council he helped compile the "Blue Book" of Iowa laws.[8] It became know as the "Old Blue Book" and was the first legal code for the Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota, and Montana Territories.[10]
When Iowa became a state on December 28, 1846, Hastings was elected as a Democrat to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He was the second youngest member serving in congress at that time. He served during the second session of the 29th United States Congress, from December 28, 1846, to March 3, 1847.[1] Close to a year after his term ended as a member of the House of Representatives, Governor Ansel Briggs appointed him as Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. He started his term on January 26, 1848, and resigned on January 14, 1849 to move to California. His family was to move there at a later time.[2][5]
In California, Hastings opened a banking and deposit office called Henley & Hastings. When California state legisature was convened in December 1849, he was selected to be the first Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.[2] He served from January 1850 to January 1852.[3] In 1851, his family moved to California and established a residence in Benicia, California.[2] When his term as Chief Justice ended he was elected to be the third Attorney General of California. He served from January 1852 to January 1854.[3] After his term as Attorney General ended, he and his wife had seven more children: Charles Foster Dio., Douglas, Uhler, Robert Paul, Flora Azalea, Ella, and Lillie.[6]
Later life
Hastings' banking and deposit office failed in 1853, so he devoted himself to the practice of law.[2] He became a well-known lawyer and a millionaire.[6] He traveled to Europe in 1865 and accompanied William H. Seward to view the recently purchased territory of Alaska in 1869. He founded the Hastings College of Law, the law department of the University of California, on March 28, 1878 with a donation of $100,000 and was the school's first dean.[2]
Hastings died at the age of 78 on February 18, 1893 in San Francisco, California.[2][6] He was buried at St. Helena Public Cemetery in St. Helena, California.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Hastings, Serranus Clinton Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved June 5.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "S.C. Hastings". UC Hastings College of the Law. Retrieved June 5.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Chief Justices of California". The California Supreme Court Historical Society. Retrieved June 5.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "California Attorney General 1850 to Present". Office of the Attorney General. Retrieved June 5.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "S. Clinton Hastings". Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved June 7.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h "Serranus Clinton Hastings at Rootsweb". RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project. Retrieved June 18.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Past Supreme Court Justices". Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved June 7.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "History of Iowa, Bios". Iowa History Project. Retrieved June 5.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "War Was Never So Sweet". Retrieved June 21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Reese Catalogue 249 Section III". Retrieved June 21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)