Benjamin Franklin Butler (lawyer)

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Benjamin Franklin Butler (lawyer)

For the 19th century United States politician and general, see Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)

Benjamin Franklin Butler (December 17, 1795 Kinderhook Landing, Columbia County, New York – November 8, 1858 Paris, France) was a lawyer, legislator and Attorney General of the United States.

[edit] Early life

He was the son of Medad Butler and Hannah Butler (née Tylee). He studied at the Academy in Hudson, New York, read law with Martin Van Buren, and when admitted to the bar in 1817, became his partner. In 1818, he married Harriet Allen.

[edit] Political career

Butler was one of the earliest members of the Albany Regency, beginning his political career as district attorney of Albany County, from 1821 to 1824. He was appointed one of the three commissioners to revise the State statutes in 1825. Butler was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1827 to 1833. 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.

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.

He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the The Bronx.

Fort Butler, one of the main forts built for the forced removal of the Cherokee during the Trail of Tears, was named for him (Duncan 2003:189).

A grandson of his was Sir Alfred Allen Booth, Bt a director of Alfred Booth and Company and chairman of Cunard

[edit] Sources

• This article contains material from the US Department of Justice Attorneys General of the United States which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.
• [1] Political Graveyard

[edit] References

• Duncan, Barbara R. and Riggs, Brett H. Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook. University of North Carolina Press: Chapel Hill (2003). ISBN 0-8078-5457-3

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