Frank Nesmith Parsons
Encyclopedia
Frank Nesmith Parsons was a lawyer
, politician
, and Chief Justice
of the New Hampshire
Supreme Court
from 1902 to 1924. Some sources spell his middle name "Naismith".
Parsons was educated at Pinkerton Academy
in Derry, New Hampshire
and at Dartmouth College
, graduating in the class of 1874. After teaching for several years, Parsons studied law and passed the bar in 1879. He became the law partner of Austin F. Pike
, a successful lawyer and politician; their partnership continued until Pike's death in 1886. Parsons married Pike's daughter Helen on October 26, 1880. Parsons was appointed the State Law Reporter
in 1891. From 1893 to 1894 he served on the New Hampshire Executive Council. In 1895 Parsons was elected to be the first mayor of Franklin
, and in the same year he was appointed an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. In 1902 he became Chief Justice, and continued in this post until 1924. From 1925-1928 he served as a state representative. In 1889 and 1930 he represented Franklin at state constitutional conventions, serving as president of the convention in 1930.
Parsons was also actively involved in community affairs, serving on the Franklin school board and board of water commissioners, as president or director of several local banks, as president of the board of trustees at Pinkerton Academy, president of Franklin Hospital, and president of the New Hampshire Historical Society
.
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...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
Supreme Court
New Hampshire Supreme Court
The New Hampshire Supreme Court is the supreme court of the U. S. state of New Hampshire and sole appellate court of the state. The Supreme Court is seated in the state capital, Concord. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices appointed by the Governor and Executive...
from 1902 to 1924. Some sources spell his middle name "Naismith".
Parsons was educated at Pinkerton Academy
Pinkerton Academy
Pinkerton Academy is a secondary school in Derry, New Hampshire. It is the largest independent academy in the United States, serving roughly 3,600 students as the high school for the communities of Derry, Hampstead, Chester and sometimes Auburn...
in Derry, New Hampshire
Derry, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 33,109 people, 12,537 households, and 8,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 924.8 people per square mile . There were 13,277 housing units at an average density of 143.2/km²...
and at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, graduating in the class of 1874. After teaching for several years, Parsons studied law and passed the bar in 1879. He became the law partner of Austin F. Pike
Austin F. Pike
Austin Franklin Pike was a United States Representative and Senator from New Hampshire. Born in Hebron, New Hampshire, he pursued an academic course, studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Merrimack County in 1845...
, a successful lawyer and politician; their partnership continued until Pike's death in 1886. Parsons married Pike's daughter Helen on October 26, 1880. Parsons was appointed the State Law Reporter
Law report
Law reports or reporters are series of books that contain judicial opinions from a selection of case law decided by courts. When a particular judicial opinion is referenced, the law report series in which the opinion is printed will determine the case citation format.The term reporter was...
in 1891. From 1893 to 1894 he served on the New Hampshire Executive Council. In 1895 Parsons was elected to be the first mayor of Franklin
Franklin, New Hampshire
The median income for a household in the city was $34,613, and the median income for a family was $41,698. Males had a median income of $32,318 versus $25,062 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,155...
, and in the same year he was appointed an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. In 1902 he became Chief Justice, and continued in this post until 1924. From 1925-1928 he served as a state representative. In 1889 and 1930 he represented Franklin at state constitutional conventions, serving as president of the convention in 1930.
Parsons was also actively involved in community affairs, serving on the Franklin school board and board of water commissioners, as president or director of several local banks, as president of the board of trustees at Pinkerton Academy, president of Franklin Hospital, and president of the New Hampshire Historical Society
New Hampshire Historical Society
The New Hampshire Historical Society was founded in 1823. Its mission is to educate a diverse public about the significance of New Hampshire's past and its relationship to our lives today.-Introduction:...
.