Austin Abbott
Encyclopedia
Austin Abbott, LL.D. was a lawyer and academic born in Boston, Mass.
, the son of Jacob Abbott
. He is probably best remembered as being the government counsel in the trial of Charles J. Guiteau
for the assassination of President
James Garfield
.
in 1851. The following year, he was admitted to the bar and became a partner with his brothers Benjamin Vaughan
and Lyman
in the legal firm Abbott Bros., a firm he stayed with through 1870. He aided his brother Benjamin in the preparation of his well-known digests of laws and was himself a prolific legal author. His works, mostly of a practical character, included a comprehensive digest of New York Statutes and Reports, a treatise
on Trial Practice, and a useful collection of legal forms, all of which proved to be useful to the profession. He married Ella E. D. Gilman in 1854.
He assisted commissioners in preparing the codes of New York in 1865. In 1875, he gained a national reputation as counsel for Henry Ward Beecher
in Theodore Tilton
's suit against him.
In 1881, he took the case against Guiteau and won. The case was one of the first highly publicized uses of the insanity defense in the United States
. He would later become the dean of the law school at New York University
, and the professor of pleading, equity, and evidence there as well. He was Dean
of the Law School
of the University of the City of New York
from 1891 until his death.
He wrote several books, including the novels:
His non-fiction works include the following books, as well as several briefs and other legal writings:
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the son of Jacob Abbott
Jacob Abbott
Jacob Abbott was an American writer of children's books.-Biography:Abbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott...
. He is probably best remembered as being the government counsel in the trial of Charles J. Guiteau
Charles J. Guiteau
Charles Julius Guiteau was an American lawyer who assassinated U.S. President James A. Garfield. He was executed by hanging.- Background :...
for the assassination of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
James Garfield
James Garfield
James Abram Garfield served as the 20th President of the United States, after completing nine consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Garfield's accomplishments as President included a controversial resurgence of Presidential authority above Senatorial courtesy in executive...
.
Biography
He graduated from New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1851. The following year, he was admitted to the bar and became a partner with his brothers Benjamin Vaughan
Benjamin Vaughan Abbott
Benjamin Vaughan Abbott was an American lawyer and author noted for his efforts in drawing up the New York penal code.He was the son of Jacob Abbott.-Biography:...
and Lyman
Lyman Abbott
Lyman Abbott was an American Congregationalist theologian, editor, and author.-Early years:Lyman Abbott was born at Roxbury, Massachusetts on December 18, 1835, the son of the prolific author, educator and historian Jacob Abbott...
in the legal firm Abbott Bros., a firm he stayed with through 1870. He aided his brother Benjamin in the preparation of his well-known digests of laws and was himself a prolific legal author. His works, mostly of a practical character, included a comprehensive digest of New York Statutes and Reports, a treatise
Treatise
A treatise is a formal and systematic written discourse on some subject, generally longer and treating it in greater depth than an essay, and more concerned with investigating or exposing the principles of the subject.-Noteworthy treatises:...
on Trial Practice, and a useful collection of legal forms, all of which proved to be useful to the profession. He married Ella E. D. Gilman in 1854.
He assisted commissioners in preparing the codes of New York in 1865. In 1875, he gained a national reputation as counsel for Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century...
in Theodore Tilton
Theodore Tilton
Theodore Tilton was an American newspaper editor, poet and abolitionist. He was born in New York City to Silas Tilton and Eusebia Tilton . On his twentieth birthday of October 2, 1855, he married Elizabeth Richards, known as "Libby Tilton"...
's suit against him.
In 1881, he took the case against Guiteau and won. The case was one of the first highly publicized uses of the insanity defense in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He would later become the dean of the law school at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and the professor of pleading, equity, and evidence there as well. He was Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Law School
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
of the University of the City of New York
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
from 1891 until his death.
He wrote several books, including the novels:
- Come Cut Corners: The Experiences of a Conservative Family in Fanatical Times, 1855
- Matthew Caraby, 1859 (with his brothers, including Benjamin Vaughan AbbottBenjamin Vaughan AbbottBenjamin Vaughan Abbott was an American lawyer and author noted for his efforts in drawing up the New York penal code.He was the son of Jacob Abbott.-Biography:...
)
His non-fiction works include the following books, as well as several briefs and other legal writings:
- Reports of Practice Cases Determined in the Courts of the State of New York, Volume 1, 1855 (with his brother Benjamin Vaughan Abbott)
- Reports of Decisions of the Court of Appeals of New York, 1850-69, (4 volumes), 1873-1874
- New Cases, Courts of the State of New York, 31 volumes covering 1876-1894,
- Abbott's Digest of New York Statutes and Reports, new 6 volume edition, 1873
- Official Report of the Trial of Henry Ward BeecherHenry Ward BeecherHenry Ward Beecher was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century...
, 2 volumes, 1875.