Francis T.P. Plimpton
Encyclopedia
Francis Taylor Pearsons Plimpton (December 7, 1900 – July 30, 1983) was a diplomat, prominent New York City
lawyer
, partner at the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton
, and a president of the New York City Bar Association.
on December 7, 1900. He was descended from an old and very prominent Boston
family. His ancestor, John Plympton, arrived in Roxbury, Massachusetts
in 1630.
Plimpton was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy
, Amherst College
, and Harvard Law School
, where he was a roommate of Adlai Stevenson. On a recommendation from Felix Frankfurter
, Plimpton began writing editorials on legal issues for the New York World
for Walter Lippmann
while still at Harvard.
’s law firm of Root, Clark, Buckner, Howland & Ballantine, and from 1929 to 1931 he took charge of the firm’s Paris office.
From 1931 to 1933, Plimpton worked for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
. In 1933 he joined the firm Debevoise & Stevenson, which became Debevoise, Stevenson & Plimpton and later Debevoise & Plimpton
. Plimpton became an expert in the legal problems of railroads and the reorganization of public utilities. Plimpton also became an expert on the legal requirements of the Securities Act of 1933
, and was able to build a large clientele, especially in the insurance industry, as a result of the new law.
at the behest of the American ambassador, Adlai Stevenson. While at the U.N., Plimpton was assigned to the Special Political Committee, and was also involved with the Budgetary and Legal Committee. He served as Adlai Stevenson’s second in command until Stevenson’s death in 1966.
From 1968 to 1970, Plimpton also served as president of the New York City Bar Association, where he became involved in the political debates of the late 1960s, particularly over the Vietnam War
. In May of 1970, he controversially led a group of young lawyers from New York to Washington, D.C.
to lobby against the war on Capitol Hill. As Sheldon Oliensis
, another president of the Bar, later recalled, Plimpton believed that there was “no issue on which the Bar could not be heard.”
, the Foreign Policy Association
, the American-Italy Society, Roosevelt Hospital, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, where he was instrumental in securing the acquisition of the Temple of Dendur
.
Plimpton’s son, George Plimpton
, was the author and founder of the Paris Review
.
at Huntington Hospital on Long Island
on July 30, 1983. He was 82 years old.
The Papers of Francis T.P. Plimpton, Harvard University Library
Plimpton Family Papers, Columbia University
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, 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...
, partner at the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton
Debevoise & Plimpton
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a prominent international law firm based in New York City. Founded in 1931 by Eli Whitney Debevoise and William Stevenson, Debevoise has been a long established leader in corporate litigation and large financial transactions. In recent years, its practice has taken on an...
, and a president of the New York City Bar Association.
Early Life
Francis Plimpton was born on East 33rd Street in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on December 7, 1900. He was descended from an old and very prominent Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
family. His ancestor, John Plympton, arrived in Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
in 1630.
Plimpton was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
, Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
, and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, where he was a roommate of Adlai Stevenson. On a recommendation from Felix Frankfurter
Felix Frankfurter
Felix Frankfurter was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.-Early life:Frankfurter was born into a Jewish family on November 15, 1882, in Vienna, Austria, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Europe. He was the third of six children of Leopold and Emma Frankfurter...
, Plimpton began writing editorials on legal issues for the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
for Walter Lippmann
Walter Lippmann
Walter Lippmann was an American intellectual, writer, reporter, and political commentator famous for being among the first to introduce the concept of Cold War...
while still at Harvard.
Early Career
After graduating from Harvard, Plimpton was hired by Elihu RootElihu Root
Elihu Root was an American lawyer and statesman and the 1912 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the prototype of the 20th century "wise man", who shuttled between high-level government positions in Washington, D.C...
’s law firm of Root, Clark, Buckner, Howland & Ballantine, and from 1929 to 1931 he took charge of the firm’s Paris office.
From 1931 to 1933, Plimpton worked for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
The Reconstruction Finance Corporation was an independent agency of the United States government, established and chartered by the US Congress in 1932, Act of January 22, 1932, c. 8, 47 Stat. 5, during the administration of President Herbert Hoover. It was modeled after the War Finance Corporation...
. In 1933 he joined the firm Debevoise & Stevenson, which became Debevoise, Stevenson & Plimpton and later Debevoise & Plimpton
Debevoise & Plimpton
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a prominent international law firm based in New York City. Founded in 1931 by Eli Whitney Debevoise and William Stevenson, Debevoise has been a long established leader in corporate litigation and large financial transactions. In recent years, its practice has taken on an...
. Plimpton became an expert in the legal problems of railroads and the reorganization of public utilities. Plimpton also became an expert on the legal requirements of the Securities Act of 1933
Securities Act of 1933
Congress enacted the Securities Act of 1933 , in the aftermath of the stock market crash of 1929 and during the ensuing Great Depression...
, and was able to build a large clientele, especially in the insurance industry, as a result of the new law.
Later Career
In 1961, Plimpton was appointed to the United States delegation to the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
at the behest of the American ambassador, Adlai Stevenson. While at the U.N., Plimpton was assigned to the Special Political Committee, and was also involved with the Budgetary and Legal Committee. He served as Adlai Stevenson’s second in command until Stevenson’s death in 1966.
From 1968 to 1970, Plimpton also served as president of the New York City Bar Association, where he became involved in the political debates of the late 1960s, particularly over the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In May of 1970, he controversially led a group of young lawyers from New York to Washington, D.C.
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....
to lobby against the war on Capitol Hill. As Sheldon Oliensis
Sheldon Oliensis
Sheldon Oliensis was a New York City lawyer, a president of the Legal Aid Society, and a president of the New York City Bar Association.-Early life and education:...
, another president of the Bar, later recalled, Plimpton believed that there was “no issue on which the Bar could not be heard.”
New York Society
In addition to his career as an attorney and diplomat, Plimpton was also active in New York society. He was a member of the board of the New York PhilharmonicNew York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the Foreign Policy Association
Foreign Policy Association
The Foreign Policy Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. Founded in 1918, it serves as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding of, and providing informed opinions on global issues...
, the American-Italy Society, Roosevelt Hospital, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, where he was instrumental in securing the acquisition of the Temple of Dendur
Temple of Dendur
The Temple of Dendur is a temple that was built by the Roman governor of Egypt, Petronius, around 15 BC and dedicated to Isis, Osiris, as well as two deified sons of a local Nubian chieftain, Pediese and Pihor...
.
Plimpton’s son, George Plimpton
George Plimpton
George Ames Plimpton was an American journalist, writer, editor, and actor. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review.-Early life:...
, was the author and founder of the Paris Review
Paris Review
The Paris Review is a literary quarterly founded in 1953 by Harold L. Humes, Peter Matthiessen and George Plimpton. Plimpton edited the Review from its founding until his death in 2003. In its first five years, The Paris Review published works by Jack Kerouac, Philip Larkin, V. S...
.
Death
Plimpton died from complications resulting from pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at Huntington Hospital on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
on July 30, 1983. He was 82 years old.
Sources
- Goodale, James C., “Francis T.P. Plimpton: A Colleague’s Reflection.” The New York Law Journal August 4, 1983.
- “Francis T.P. Plimpton, 82, Dies.” The New York Times. July 31, 1983.
- Morris, Jeffrey B. “Making Sure We are True to Our Founders”: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1980-1995. New York, NY: Fordham University Press, 1997. ISBN 0-8232-1738-8
External Links
Website of Debevoise & Plimpton, LLPThe Papers of Francis T.P. Plimpton, Harvard University Library
Plimpton Family Papers, Columbia University