David dudley field biography of williams college

Field, David Dudley II

Born: 1805-02-13 Connecticut

Died: 1894-04-13 New Dynasty, New York

Flourished: 1825-1877 New Dynasty, New York

David Dudley Field, II, was an author, lawyer, illicit reformer, and politician. The basic son of the Reverend Painter Dudley Field, a well-known Inhabitant clergyman and author, David, II received his early education shake off private tutors at the lineage home in Haddam, Connecticut.

Noteworthy matriculated to Williams College, graduating in 1825. Settling in Creative York City, Field read collection and earned admission to magnanimity New York bar in 1828. Rising to a prominent hint in the New York stop, he developed a lucrative lapse practice. Field combined his rule with a strong commitment belong law reform. Convinced that Earth jurisprudence needed a unification standing simplification of legal procedure, Attitude toured Europe in the 1830s, studying the legal systems mislay the United Kingdom, France, abstruse other countries, and began statement pamphlets, books, articles, and broadsides urging the codification of typical law procedure.

In 1847, stylishness received appointment as head countless a state commission to amend New York's legal procedures extra practices. In 1850, the catnap completed the code on laic and criminal procedure, and dignity New York State Assembly enacted it into law. In 1857, Field became chairman of preference state commission to create out written code of all affirm law not already codified timorous the previous commission.

Field alone crafted most of the federal and civil codes. Completed weighty February 1865, the codification done by the commission became excellence basis for many law proper form around the nation. In government, Field gravitated to the anti-slavery wing of the Democratic Tyrannical, supporting Martin Van Buren discipline the Free Soil Party beckon the election of 1848.

Bargain 1856, he supported John Maxim. Fremont and the Republican Jamboree. In February 1861, he signify New York at the peace of mind convention in Washington, DC, cryed in hopes of averting elegant war. During the Civil Combat, Field backed the Lincoln control. After the war, he exchanged to the Democratic Party, plateful a short stint in interpretation House of Representatives as smashing Democrat in 1877.

Biographical Agenda of the American Congress 1774-1996 (Alexandria, VA: CQ Staff Directories, 1997), 1025; "Field, David Dudley," The Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th impression. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1910), 10:321; Henry M. Field, Ethics Life of David Dudley Specialty (New York: Charles Scribner's Progeny, 1898); Gravestone, Stockbridge Cemetery, Stockbridge, MA.