Emory Speer
Encyclopedia
Emory Speer was an American
politician
, soldier
and lawyer
.
, Georgia
and joined the Confederate Army
during the Civil War
at the age of sixteen serving in the Fifth Kentucky Regiment, Lewis brigade.
After the war, Speer attended the University of Georgia
in Athens
where his father, Dr. Eustace W. Speer, had once been a faculty member. The younger Speer was a member of the Demosthenian Literary Society
and a Charter Member of the Eta Chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1869 and read law to gain admittance to the state bar that same year and became a practicing lawyer in Athens.
From 1873 until 1876, Speer was the solicitor general of Georgia. His first campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives
in 1876 was unsuccessful; however, he won election to the House in 1878 and again in 1880 before losing his re-election bid in 1882.
After his congressional service, Speer became the United States Attorney
for the northern district of Georgia from 1883 until 1885.
He was nominated by President Chester A. Arthur
on January 19, 1885 to serve as a district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
, to a seat vacated by John Erskine
. Speer was confirmed by the United States Senate
, and received his commission, on February 18, 1885. During his district judgeship, Speer also served as the Dean
of Mercer University
's School of Law, now known as Walter F. George School of Law
in Macon, Georgia
from 1893 until his death in 1918 in that same city. Speer was also buried in Riverside Cemetery in Macon.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and 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
Speer was born in CullodenCulloden, Georgia
Culloden is a city in Monroe County, Georgia, United States. The population was 223 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Culloden is located at ....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and joined the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
at the age of sixteen serving in the Fifth Kentucky Regiment, Lewis brigade.
After the war, Speer attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
where his father, Dr. Eustace W. Speer, had once been a faculty member. The younger Speer was a member of the Demosthenian Literary Society
Demosthenian Literary Society
The Demosthenian Literary Society is a debating society at The University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. It was founded in 1803 by the first graduating class of the University's Franklin College. The society was founded on February 19, 1803 and the anniversary is celebrated now with the Society's...
and a Charter Member of the Eta Chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1869 and read law to gain admittance to the state bar that same year and became a practicing lawyer in Athens.
From 1873 until 1876, Speer was the solicitor general of Georgia. His first campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1876 was unsuccessful; however, he won election to the House in 1878 and again in 1880 before losing his re-election bid in 1882.
After his congressional service, Speer became the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the northern district of Georgia from 1883 until 1885.
He was nominated by President Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
on January 19, 1885 to serve as a district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia is a United States District Court which serves the residents of thirty-four counties in Georgia through six divisions....
, to a seat vacated by John Erskine
John Erskine (judge)
John Erskine was a United States federal judge.Born in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, Erskine read law to enter the bar in 1846...
. Speer was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and received his commission, on February 18, 1885. During his district judgeship, Speer also served as the 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 Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
's School of Law, now known as Walter F. George School of Law
Walter F. George School of Law
The Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University, founded in 1873, is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and is the second oldest of Mercer's eleven colleges and schools. The School of Law, with approximately 420 students, is located in Macon, Georgia on its own campus one...
in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
from 1893 until his death in 1918 in that same city. Speer was also buried in Riverside Cemetery in Macon.
Publications
- Emory Speer, Lectures on the Constitution of the United States : before the law class of Mercer University, J.W. Burke Co. (1897).
- Emory Speer, Lincoln, Lee, Grant, and other biographical addresses (1909).