Abner Smith Lipscomb
Encyclopedia
Abner Smith Lipscomb was an American and Texan
lawyer and judge. He was also appointed Secretary of State for the Republic of Texas
under the administration of President Mirabeau B. Lamar
.
Lipscomb studied law in the office of John C. Calhoun
and passed the bar in 1810. In 1811, he began practice in St. Stephens
, Alabama
(then part of the Mississippi Territory
.) He served in the Alabama territorial
legislature in 1818 and became a circuit judge in 1819 when Alabama was admitted to statehood. When Chief Justice Clement Clay
of the Alabama Supreme Court
resigned in 1823, Lipscomb was chosen to be the next Chief Justice. The court was reorganized in 1832; Lipscomb continued as Chief Justice of the court, where he served until 1835. Lipscomb served a term in the Alabama state legislature in 1838.
In 1839 Lipscomb moved to the Republic of Texas
and established a law practice in Brenham
. He was Secretary of State under President Lamar from January 31, 1840 to December 13, 1840. Lipscomb was a member of the Convention of 1845; in 1845, he also served on a committee that wrote a report on the Texas General Land Office. He was appointed an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court
in 1846 by Governor James Pinckney Henderson
. As he was elected in 1851 and re-elected in 1856, he continued in this post until November 1856.
Lipscomb died in Austin, Texas
and was buried in the State Cemetery. Lipscomb County, Texas and its county seat of Lipscomb, Texas
are named in honor of him.
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
lawyer and judge. He was also appointed Secretary of State for the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
under the administration of President Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's...
.
Lipscomb studied law in the office of John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
and passed the bar in 1810. In 1811, he began practice in St. Stephens
St. Stephens, Alabama
St. Stephens is an unincorporated census-designated place in Washington County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 495. Located near the Tombigbee River in the southwestern part of the state, it is composed of two distinct sites: Old St. Stephens and New St. Stephens....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
(then part of the Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
.) He served in the Alabama territorial
Alabama Territory
The Territory of Alabama was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 15, 1817, until December 14, 1819, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alabama.-History:...
legislature in 1818 and became a circuit judge in 1819 when Alabama was admitted to statehood. When Chief Justice Clement Clay
Clement Comer Clay
Clement Comer Clay was the eighth Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1835 to 1837.Clay was born in Halifax County, Virginia. His father, William Clay, was an officer in the American Revolutionary War, who moved to Grainger County, Tennessee, after the war. Clay attended public schools and...
of the Alabama Supreme Court
Alabama Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Alabama is the highest court in the state of Alabama. The court consists of an elected Chief Justice and eight elected Associate Justices. Each justice is elected in partisan elections for staggered six year terms. The Governor of Alabama may fill vacancies when they occur...
resigned in 1823, Lipscomb was chosen to be the next Chief Justice. The court was reorganized in 1832; Lipscomb continued as Chief Justice of the court, where he served until 1835. Lipscomb served a term in the Alabama state legislature in 1838.
In 1839 Lipscomb moved to the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
and established a law practice in Brenham
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
. He was Secretary of State under President Lamar from January 31, 1840 to December 13, 1840. Lipscomb was a member of the Convention of 1845; in 1845, he also served on a committee that wrote a report on the Texas General Land Office. He was appointed an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
in 1846 by Governor James Pinckney Henderson
James Pinckney Henderson
James Pinckney Henderson was a United States and Republic of Texas lawyer, politician, soldier, and the first Governor of the State of Texas....
. As he was elected in 1851 and re-elected in 1856, he continued in this post until November 1856.
Lipscomb died in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and was buried in the State Cemetery. Lipscomb County, Texas and its county seat of Lipscomb, Texas
Lipscomb, Texas
Lipscomb is a census-designated place in Lipscomb County, Texas, United States. The population was 44 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lipscomb County.-Geography:Lipscomb is located at ....
are named in honor of him.