Draft:David Fowler (Maryland judge)

Judge David Fowler, 1911

David Fowler (1836 – February 5, 1911) was a justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals from 1889 to 1905.

Judge David Fowler is the second son of the late Hon. Robert Fowler, for many years an influential and prominent citizen of the State, and at one time treasurer. He was born in Washington county in 1836, graduated at the College of St. James, near Hagerstown, in 1858, along with a number of men who afterward became prominent. He came to Baltimore, studied law with Brown & Brune, was admitted to the bar in 1862 and at once engaged in practice in the city. For some years he occupied an office adjoining that of Mr. Charles J. M. Gwinn, for whom, in his absence, he transacted a considerable amount of business. Judge Fowler recalls the fact that during this time Mr. George W. Abell, of The Son, was a law student in the office of Mr. Gwinn. The two were thrown much together and became excellent friends. Later on Mr. Fowler bore the same relation to Reverdy Johnson that he had formerly with Mr. Gwinn, He wrote the will of that great lawyer at his dictation, and Mr. Johnson devised to him a number of valuable Maryland and other books, which Judge Fowler now has and prizes highly. Judge Fowler never took to politics and never was much of a politician. His only essay In this direction was as candidate for the House of Delegates in Baltimore county in 1875, when the whole democratic ticket was overwhelmed by the so-called "potato bug" movement. In 1882, when the terms of the judges elected in 1867 expired, Mr. Fowler was a candidate for the office of associate judge. The ticket that year was rather a complicated affair. There was an "old-Judge" and a "new-judge" ticket, and Mr. Fowler does not know exactly against whom he was running. Judge Yellott deferred to be associate Judge, and was, in fact, running for that office on the ticket with Judge Grason, and at the same time for chief Judge on the ticket with Mr. Fowler. Stephenson Archer was independent candidate for chief judge. He carried his own county by a large majority, and would have been elected but for the republican vote of Baltimore county, which went largely to the democratic ticket. Judge Yellott was elected chief judge and Mr. Fowler associate. Seven years later, in 1889, Judge Yellott arrived at the age of seventy years. The Legislature did not extend his term and he retired. Governor Jackson gave Judge Fowler the appointment in the spring of 1889, and in the fall of that year he was elected for the term of fifteen years over Mr. Keecb. Judge Fowler married Miss Brinkley, of Baltimore. His home is at Towson. His circuit includes the Counties of Baltimore and Harford, and be does a large amount of circuit duty both at Towson aud Belair.

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Fowler was the second son of the late Robert Fowler, of Washington county, and was born in 1836. His father was a well-known contractor and hotel proprietor, and later was interested in politics, as a result of which be was made Treasurer of the State. Graduating from St. James' College in 1858, David Fowler came to Baltimore and entered the offices of Brown & Brune, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1862.

His early career was very successful and In his practice he was associated with some of the brightest minds in the profession. His offices for many years adjoined those of Mr. Charles J. M. Gwinn, for whom he transacted important business during the latter's absence.

He served in the same capacity for the late Reverdy Johnson, and the friendship thus formed grew closer with the years, so that at Mr. Johnson's death the Judge was bequeathed many of his most valuable books and papers. Interested In Ilarnuni's Hotel. The Interest of his father In Barnum's famous hotel was left to the Judge and he held it until the hotel was sold to make way for the Equitable Building. Although his father was closely allied with the Democracy, Judge Fowler never took an active part in political affairs.

He was a candidate for the Legislature in 1875 from Baltimore county, but his defeat which followed was attributed to the "potato bug" movement. In 1882 he entered the race for associate Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, which includes Baltimore and Harford counties, and was elected along writh Chief Judge Yellott. At the retirement of the latter, in 18S9, Governor Jackson appointed Judge Fowler to the chief judgeship and he was elected In 1890 for the full term of 15 years.

Fowler died at his home in Baltimore at the age of 75.

References

Category:1836 births Category:1911 deaths Category:Judges of the Supreme Court of Maryland

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