Clarence Darrow Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Clarence Darrow
Clarence Seward Darrow ca. 1922
Born	Clarence Seward Darrow (1857-04-18)April 18, 1857 Kinsman, Ohio
Died	March 13, 1938(1938-03-13) (aged 80) Chicago, Illinois
Cause of death	Pulmonary heart disease
Alma mater	Allegheny College University of Michigan
Occupation	Lawyer

Clarence Darrow (born April 18, 1857 – died March 13, 1938) was a famous American lawyer. He was a key member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an organization that works to protect people's rights.

Darrow was known for his cleverness in court and his strong support for civil rights. This made him a very well-known lawyer. He spent his later years quietly and passed away at age eighty. Many people respected him as a rebel who always stood up for what he believed was right, even if it was unpopular.

Early Life and Education
- Becoming a Lawyer
- Family Life
Clarence Darrow's Legacy
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Early Life and Education

Clarence Darrow was born in Farmdale, Ohio, on April 18, 1857. He grew up in nearby Kinsman, Ohio. His family had lived in New England for a long time, and some of his ancestors fought in the American Revolution.

Darrow's father believed strongly in ending slavery. His mother supported women's rights and the idea of female suffrage, which means women being able to vote.

Becoming a Lawyer

Young Clarence went to Allegheny College and the University of Michigan Law School. However, he did not finish his studies at either place. He left Allegheny College after one year because of a money problem called the Panic of 1873. He did not want to be a burden to his father.

For the next three years, Darrow worked as a teacher in a country school. While teaching, he started to study law on his own. His family encouraged him to go to law school. After a year at the University of Michigan, he decided it would be cheaper to learn by working in a real law office.

When he felt ready, he took the Ohio bar exam and passed it. He became a lawyer in Ohio in 1878. His childhood home in Kinsman, the Clarence Darrow Octagon House, is now a memorial to him.

Family Life

Darrow married Jessie Ohl in April 1880. They had one son, Paul Edward Darrow, born in 1883. They later divorced in 1897. In 1903, Darrow married Ruby Hammerstrom, a journalist. They did not have any children.

Clarence Darrow's Legacy

Today, Clarence Darrow is remembered as a powerful lawyer. He often fought for people who were seen as underdogs or who faced tough challenges. Because of this, many people consider him one of the greatest criminal defense lawyers in American history.