Serranus Clinton Hastings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Serranus C. Hastings
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's at-large district |
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| In office December 29, 1846 – March 3, 1847 |
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| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | District eliminated |
| 3rd Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court | |
| In office January 26, 1848 – January 14, 1849 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Williams |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Williams |
| 1st Chief Justice of California | |
| In office December 20, 1849 – December 1851 |
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| Succeeded by | Henry A. Lyons |
| 3rd Attorney General of California | |
| In office January 5, 1852 – January 2, 1854 |
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| Governor | John Bigler |
| Preceded by | James A. McDougall |
| Succeeded by | John R. McConnell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 22, 1814 Watertown, Jefferson County, New York |
| Died | February 18, 1893 (aged 78) San Francisco, California |
| Nationality |  American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Azalea Brodt |
| Signature |  |
Serranus Clinton Hastings (November 22, 1814 – February 18, 1893) was an American lawyer, politician, and rancher. He held important roles in both Iowa and California. He served as a judge, a member of Congress, and even as the first Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. Later in his life, he used his wealth to start the Hastings College of the Law.
Recently, there have been discussions about Hastings' actions in the 1850s. Reports suggest he was involved in events that harmed Yuki people in California. Because of these concerns, the college he founded decided to change its name.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Serranus Hastings was born on November 22, 1814, in Watertown, New York. His parents were Robert Collins Hastings and Patience Brayton. His middle name, Clinton, came from his father's friend, DeWitt Clinton.
After his father passed away in 1824, his family moved to St. Lawrence County, New York. Serranus studied at Gouverneur Academy. By 1834, he was teaching and became the principal at Norwich Academy in New York. He brought new teaching methods to the school. In 1835, he left teaching to study law.
Hastings first studied law in Norwich, New York. He then moved to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, to continue his legal studies. Before becoming a lawyer, he worked as an editor for a newspaper called the Indiana Signal. He supported Martin Van Buren in his presidential campaign. In December 1836, he moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, and passed his law exam.
Political and Legal Career
In January 1837, Hastings moved to the Iowa District, which was then part of the Wisconsin Territory. He settled in Bloomington, which is now Muscatine, Iowa. He passed another law exam, became a lawyer, and opened his own law office. He was also appointed as a Justice of the Peace. His job covered a large area between Burlington, Iowa, and Davenport, Iowa. He once handled a case where a man was found guilty of stealing. The man was punished and sent out of the territory.
When the Iowa Territory was formed in 1838, Hastings was elected to represent several counties in the Iowa Territorial General Assembly. He served from November 1838 to January 1839. He was re-elected in 1839. In 1840, he helped resolve a border dispute with Missouri called the Honey War. He was given the military title of Major and helped capture a sheriff, but no actual battle took place.
On June 10, 1840, Hastings married Azalea Brodt in Muscatine, Iowa. They had two children, Marshall and Clara L., while living there. He continued to be elected to the Legislative Council, serving several terms between 1840 and 1846. During this time, he helped create the "Blue Book" of Iowa laws. This book became the first legal code for Iowa and other territories like Nebraska and Montana.
In 1846, Iowa became a state. Hastings was chosen to represent Iowa in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat. He was elected on December 29, 1846. He was one of the youngest members of Congress at that time. He served until March 3, 1847.
After his term in Congress, Governor Ansel Briggs appointed him as the third Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. He started this role on January 26, 1848. He resigned on January 14, 1849, to move to California, though his family stayed in Iowa for a while.
Hastings settled in Benicia, California. In September 1849, he worked as a prosecuting attorney. A few months later, the California legislature chose him to be the first Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. He began his term on December 20, 1849. In 1851, his family joined him in California.
While serving as Chief Justice, he ran for Attorney General of California. He won the election on September 3, 1851. His term as Chief Justice ended in December 1851, and he became Attorney General on January 5, 1852. As Attorney General, he was also allowed to practice law. The money he earned from his law practice helped him build a large fortune through real estate investments. He finished his two-year term as Attorney General on January 2, 1854.
Historical Review and College Name Change
In 1860, the California Legislature looked into events that harmed the Yuki people in Mendocino County. Serranus Hastings, who owned a lot of land in the area, provided a statement. He claimed he didn't know about the "outrages" committed by a group called the Eel River Rangers. However, the investigation also mentioned Hastings as someone who helped organize and fund these Rangers. There was even a letter from the Ranger captain to Hastings discussing plans to attack Native Americans.
The question of Hastings' involvement became more public in 2017. A professor suggested that Hastings helped cause harm to Native Americans by supporting "Indian-hunting expeditions" in the 1850s. A book mentioned that Hastings helped deliver a request to the governor to form a militia. It also suggested that Hastings, a wealthy landowner, might have wanted to remove the Yuki people to protect his livestock.
Another historian stated that Hastings and others used the government system to support actions that led to harm against Native Americans.
David Faigman, the Chancellor of Hastings College, started a committee to look into these claims. He hired a historian to write a report. This report stated that there was "significant proof" that Hastings was involved in violence against California Native Americans. It also said that the leader of the Eel River Rangers kept Hastings informed of their activities.
Faigman also met with descendants of the Yuki and other Native American groups. In July 2020, the committee accepted the findings about Hastings' involvement. However, they initially recommended that the college's name should not be changed.
Fifteen months later, in October 2021, a newspaper article highlighted the debate. Six days after this article, the college's Board of Directors held a special meeting. They changed their earlier decision and voted to change the school's name. They stated that Serranus Hastings promoted and funded "genocide against members of the Yuki Tribe and other Native Californians." They asked for legislation to change the name.
In February 2022, bills were introduced in the California Legislature to rename Hastings College of the Law. One bill suggested renaming it "College of the Law," while another wanted a new name chosen by the college's board and Native American groups. The Native American groups wanted a Yuki name. However, the Chancellor pushed for the name "UC San Francisco School of Law."
On November 2, 2021, the Board of Directors voted to remove Serranus Clinton Hastings from the college's name. On July 27, 2022, the board voted to rename the college the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (UC Law SF). This name change became law on September 23, 2022, and the new name was used starting in 2023.
Some people have defended Hastings, saying there is no proof he directly killed Native Americans or knew about plans to kill them beforehand. They argue he used the law to help settlers form a local police force to protect their property. They also suggest the decision to change the name was influenced by money and politics rather than a full review of Hastings' life.
Later Life and Legacy
After his term as Attorney General, Hastings continued to practice law. He also became part of a banking firm, which later failed, but he didn't lose much money. Around 1857, he left his professional life to focus on real estate. He and his wife had seven more children: Charles Foster Dio, Douglas, Uhler, Robert Paul, Flora Azalea, Ella, and Lillie.
He slowly bought many properties in San Francisco and large areas of land in other California counties. In 1861, he built affordable four-room buildings in San Francisco for people with lower incomes. This was a successful business venture. By 1862, he was worth a lot of money, mostly from his real estate investments. He traveled to Europe in 1865 and later visited Alaska with William H. Seward.
On March 28, 1878, Hastings founded the Hastings College of Law by donating $100,000. This college later became part of the University of California. He accepted the position of dean and also taught comparative law until 1887. He also helped establish St. Catherine Academy in Benicia, California, with a donation. He supported the publication of two books about the plants of the Pacific coast. A plant genus, Hastingsia, was later named after him to honor his contributions to botany.
Serranus Hastings passed away on February 18, 1893, in San Francisco, California, at the age of 78. He was buried in St. Helena Public Cemetery.
See also
- Henry A. Lyons
- List of justices of the Supreme Court of California
- Nathaniel Bennett
