Erastus D. Culver facts for kids

Erastus Dean Culver (born March 15, 1803 – died October 13, 1889) was an important American figure. He was a lawyer, politician, judge, and diplomat from New York. Culver was a strong supporter of the anti-slavery movement. In the 1840s, while in Congress, he spoke out against slavery spreading to new territories like Texas and Oregon.

As a lawyer, he helped enslaved people gain their freedom in court. One famous case was Lemmon v. New York (1852). He successfully argued for the freedom of eight enslaved people in New York City. Later, Culver became a judge in Brooklyn's City Court, serving from 1854 to 1861. In 1857, he ruled in another important "freedom suit," setting a runaway slave named "Jeems" free.

From 1862 to 1866, Culver served as the United States Minister (like an ambassador) to Venezuela. After his time as a diplomat, he returned to his hometown of Greenwich, New York. He was involved in several businesses until he passed away in 1889.

Early Life and Education

Erastus Culver was born in Champlain, New York on March 15, 1803. He went to college at the University of Vermont, graduating in 1826. After college, he worked as a teacher for a while.

He then studied law with an experienced law firm. In 1831, he became a lawyer and started his own practice in Fort Ann, New York.

Culver joined the Whig Party, which was a major political party at the time. He became active in local government. He was elected as Fort Ann's Town Clerk and served from 1833 to 1835. In 1836, Culver moved to Greenwich (town), New York. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1838 and again in 1841.

Fighting Slavery in Congress

In 1844, Erastus Culver was elected to the United States Congress. He served one term, from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1847. In Congress, he was a strong voice against slavery.

His very first action as a Congressman was to present a petition. This petition was from New York residents who wanted slavery to be ended in District of Columbia. He also gained attention for a speech where he strongly opposed allowing slavery to spread into the Oregon Territory and the Republic of Texas. These areas were joining the United States at the time.

A Judge for Freedom

In 1850, Culver moved to Brooklyn, New York. There, he started a new law practice. He became well-known for defending abolitionists (people who wanted to end slavery) in New York City and Brooklyn. Chester A. Arthur, who later became a U.S. President, even studied law with Culver and later became his law partner.

Culver, Arthur, and another lawyer named John Jay (who was the grandson of a famous chief justice) worked together on a very important case. This case was called Lemmon v. New York (1852). It was a "freedom suit," meaning it was a lawsuit to gain freedom for enslaved people.

In this case, slave owners from Virginia were traveling with their enslaved people. They stopped temporarily in New York on their way to Texas. An African-American activist found out about the enslaved people being in New York. New York had already abolished slavery. The activist asked the court for a special order called a Habeas corpus. This order temporarily freed the enslaved people. Culver and his team successfully argued that these people could not be considered property in New York. The court agreed, and the enslaved people remained free.

In the 1850s, when the Republican Party was formed, Culver joined it. In 1854, he was elected as a judge for Brooklyn's city court. He served as a judge until 1861.

One of his most famous cases as a judge happened in 1857. This was soon after the controversial Dred Scott case and as tensions over slavery were growing before the American Civil War. Culver ruled in another freedom suit. This case involved a runaway slave named "Jeems" who was owned by James Stead from Georgia. Jeems, who was described as "nearly white," had escaped and traveled by steamship from Florida to New York City.

When Jeems arrived, police officers, alerted by the ship's captain, detained him. They put him in chains and held him in a house in Brooklyn. They planned to return him to his owner under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 to collect a reward. When the case came to court, the police officers and Stead's lawyer argued that New York's anti-slavery laws did not apply. They said Stead and Jeems were residents of another state.

Judge Culver disagreed. He issued a habeas corpus writ, and Jeems was set free. Activists then helped Jeems reach the Underground Railroad and travel to Canada for safety. The steamship captain, the owner of the house where Jeems was held, and the two police officers faced charges related to detaining Jeems.

Diplomat in Venezuela

Erastus Culver was also known as a good public speaker. He was present on the stage when Abraham Lincoln gave his famous 1860 Cooper Union speech. After Lincoln's speech, people asked Culver to give a speech too, which he did.

In 1862, President Lincoln appointed Culver as the United States Minister (a type of diplomat) to Venezuela. He served in this role until 1866. When he arrived in Venezuela, Culver accidentally caused a small diplomatic problem. He presented his official papers to José Antonio Páez, whose government was not officially recognized by the United States at that time.

Culver's instructions had not been very clear. Because he had effectively recognized the Páez government, the U.S. Secretary of State, Seward, later wrote to him. Seward instructed Culver to formally withdraw the recognition. Official diplomatic relations between the U.S. and that Venezuelan government were then broken off. However, Culver had become friends with Páez, who allowed him to stay in Venezuela.

Later Life and Legacy

After returning to the United States, Erastus Culver settled back in Greenwich, New York. He continued to practice law there. He also became involved in several business ventures. He served as the president of the First National Bank of Greenwich. He was also a member of the board of directors for the Greenwich and Johnsonville Railway.

Culver lived in Greenwich during his retirement years. He passed away there on October 13, 1889. He was buried in the Culver family vault at Greenwich Cemetery.]