Henry Hitchcock (Missouri lawyer) facts for kids
.jpg)
_signature.jpg)
Henry Hitchcock (born July 3, 1829 – died March 18, 1902) was an important lawyer from St. Louis, Missouri. He was known for his work in law and for helping to start the American Bar Association.
Contents
Early Life and Family Connections
Henry Hitchcock was born in a place called Spring Hill, close to Mobile, Alabama. He came from a family with interesting history. His great-grandfather was Ethan Allen, a famous figure from the American Revolution.
Henry's father was also named Henry Hitchcock. He was born in Burlington, Vermont. His father held important jobs in the government of Alabama. He was the Secretary of the Territory, then the Attorney General, and later a Chief Justice. This means he was a top lawyer and judge for the state. Henry's brother, Ethan Hitchcock, also became a very important person. He served as the Secretary of the Interior for two U.S. Presidents, McKinley and Roosevelt.
Education and Becoming a Lawyer
Young Henry went to college at the University of Nashville and then at Yale University. After college, he decided to study law. He learned from experienced lawyers in New York City. One of his teachers was Willis Hall, who was a Corporation Counsel for the city. Another was William F. Cooper, who later became a judge on the Supreme Court of Tennessee.
After finishing his studies, Henry moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There, he passed an exam and was officially allowed to practice law. This meant he could work as a lawyer and help people with legal issues.
Role in the Civil War
Henry Hitchcock was strongly against slavery. When the Civil War began, he became involved in the provisional, or temporary, government of Missouri. This government supported the Union side.
He later joined the Union Army. He worked as a Judge Advocate on the personal team of General Sherman. A Judge Advocate is a lawyer who works for the military. Henry was with General Sherman during his famous "Sherman's March to the Sea." This was a major military campaign where Union forces marched through Georgia. Henry's letters and diaries from this time were published later. They give us a valuable look into this important part of history.
Leading the Legal Community
After the Civil War, Henry Hitchcock became a very respected lawyer. He was one of the first presidents of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. This is a group for lawyers in the St. Louis area.
In 1878, Henry Hitchcock helped create a much bigger organization: the American Bar Association. This is a national group for lawyers across the United States. He later became the twelfth president of this important association in 1889. His work helped shape the legal profession in America. In 1882, he was also chosen to be a member of the American Antiquarian Society, a group that studies American history and culture.
