Joseph G. Baldwin
Joseph Glover Baldwin (January 21, 1815 - January 2, 1864) was an American attorney and humor writer who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California from October 2, 1858 to January 2, 1862.
Born in Winchester, Virginia, Baldwin was educated in Stanton, Virginia,[1] and studied law in the office of his uncle, Judge Briscoe G. Baldwin, to become a lawyer.[2][3] His brother Oliver P. Baldwin was a lawyer, newspaper editor, and speaker in Cleveland and later Richmond, VIrginia. In 1836, he moved to DeKalb County, Alabama, thereafter moving to Gainesville, Alabama in 1838.[1] There he practiced law with J. Bliss, Esquire,[1]
In 1843 he was elected as a Whig to the Alabama House of Representatives. In 1849, he was defeated by Democrat Samuel Williams Inge in a bid for the United States Congress. Baldwin moved to Livingston, Alabama in 1850, where he continued to practice, while writing two books of humorous stories, The Flush Times of Alabama and Mississippi: A Series of Sketches, published in 1853, and Party Leaders, published the following year. He also saw his work published in the New York City weekly newspaper, The Spirit of the Times.
He moved to California in 1854, where he served as counsel on a number of important cases.[3] In 1858, following the death of Chief Justice Murray, Baldwin was elected by the people to serve out the remainder of Murray's term on the California Supreme Court, from October, 1858, until January, 1862.[3] He thereafter resumed the practice of law in San Francisco, until his death.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Donna R. Causey, "Biography: Joseph Glover Baldwin born 1815", Alabama Pioneers (February 4, 2014).
- ↑ Mary Alice Kirkpatrick, "Joseph G. Baldwin (Joseph Glover), 1815-1864", Documenting the American South (2004).
- 1 2 3 Proceedings on the Death of the Hon. Joseph G. Baldwin, Cal. Reports Vol. 26 (October 4th, 1864).
External links
- Documenting the American South page on Joseph G. Baldwin
- Alabama Pioneers page on Joseph G. Baldwin
- California Supreme Court Historical Society page on Joseph G. Baldwin