Christian Roselius
Encyclopedia
Christian Roselius was a Louisiana
lawyer
.
ing. In July 1820, he left Germany on board the bark “Jupiter” for New Orleans, having secured his passage by an indenture
. He was then employed for several years in a printing
office. In 1825, with a partner, he established and edited the first literary journal published in Louisiana. It was called The Halcyon, and, failing to prove remunerative, was abandoned for the study of the law
, Roselius supporting himself during this time by teaching.
His legal studies were pursued in company with his friend, Alexander Dimitry, in the office of Auguste Devesac, beginning in December 1826, and terminating in March 1828, at which time he was admitted to practice by the Louisiana Supreme Court
, consisting of Judges Martin, Matthews, and Porter. His love of the civil law
became a passion, and soon placed him in the front rank and eventually at the head of the Louisiana bar.
In 1841 he was appointed Attorney General of Louisiana and served for a term of two years. During the same decade he was honored with an invitation to become the law partner in Washington
of Daniel Webster
, which he, however, declined, preferring to remain in the South.
For many years, Roselius was dean of the faculty of the University of Louisiana
, and for the last 23 years of his life professor of civil law. In 1863 he was offered the highest place in the reconstructed Louisiana Supreme Court, but he declined to accept the appointment unless the court should be secured from military interference. Roselius possessed one of the finest private libraries
in the South. It was particularly rich in the Latin classics
, of which he was a constant reader, and in Shakespeariana, of which he was a devoted student. He conversed equally well in English
, French
, and German
.
His house and spacious grounds at Carrolton
, a suburb of New Orleans, was noted for its generous hospitality, few persons of distinction visiting New Orleans during the last two decades of his life without being entertained by Roselius, who was a cheery and charming host. His hand and purse were always open to the unfortunate, and one of several visits to his native land was for the sole purpose of aiding some of his less prosperous kinsmen.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
.
Biography
His early education was limited to the elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
ing. In July 1820, he left Germany on board the bark “Jupiter” for New Orleans, having secured his passage by an indenture
Indenture
An indenture is a legal contract reflecting a debt or purchase obligation, specifically referring to two types of practices: in historical usage, an indentured servant status, and in modern usage, an instrument used for commercial debt or real estate transaction.-Historical usage:An indenture is a...
. He was then employed for several years in a printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
office. In 1825, with a partner, he established and edited the first literary journal published in Louisiana. It was called The Halcyon, and, failing to prove remunerative, was abandoned for the study of the law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, Roselius supporting himself during this time by teaching.
His legal studies were pursued in company with his friend, Alexander Dimitry, in the office of Auguste Devesac, beginning in December 1826, and terminating in March 1828, at which time he was admitted to practice by the Louisiana Supreme Court
Louisiana Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Louisiana is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans....
, consisting of Judges Martin, Matthews, and Porter. His love of the civil law
Civil law
Civil law may refer to:* Civil law , a branch of continental law which is the general part of private law* Civil law , a branch of common law dealing with relations between individuals or organizations...
became a passion, and soon placed him in the front rank and eventually at the head of the Louisiana bar.
In 1841 he was appointed Attorney General of Louisiana and served for a term of two years. During the same decade he was honored with an invitation to become the law partner in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
of Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
, which he, however, declined, preferring to remain in the South.
For many years, Roselius was dean of the faculty of the University of Louisiana
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, and for the last 23 years of his life professor of civil law. In 1863 he was offered the highest place in the reconstructed Louisiana Supreme Court, but he declined to accept the appointment unless the court should be secured from military interference. Roselius possessed one of the finest private libraries
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
in the South. It was particularly rich in the Latin classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
, of which he was a constant reader, and in Shakespeariana, of which he was a devoted student. He conversed equally well in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
His house and spacious grounds at Carrolton
Audubon, New Orleans
Audubon is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Uptown/Carrolton Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: South Claiborne Avenue to the north, Jefferson Avenue to the east, the Mississippi River and Magazine Street to the south, and Lowerline...
, a suburb of New Orleans, was noted for its generous hospitality, few persons of distinction visiting New Orleans during the last two decades of his life without being entertained by Roselius, who was a cheery and charming host. His hand and purse were always open to the unfortunate, and one of several visits to his native land was for the sole purpose of aiding some of his less prosperous kinsmen.