Frederick Grimke
Encyclopedia
Frederick Grimke was a judge and author in the U.S. State
of Ohio
who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge 1836-1842.
Frederick Grimke was born in Charleston, South Carolina
, the son of John Faucheraud Grimke, a Revolutionary War hero and jurist in that state. He graduated from Yale University
at age 19, studied law in South Carolina
, and practiced in that state before moving to Chillicothe, Ohio
in 1818.
From 1820 to 1836, Grimke was President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas In 1836, he was elected a Judge on the Ohio Supreme Court. Throughout this time he wrote essays for the Scioto Gazette (Chillicothe) and Ohio State Journal (Columbus
). In 1842, literary and philosophical studies became an obsession, and he resigned from the Supreme Court.
In 1846, the 544 page Considerations upon the Nature and Tendency of Free Institutions was published. It was wide ranging, and generally favorable toward democracy. Before he died during the American Civil War
, he directed that one copy be delivered to the Federal Government, and one to the Confederate Government. He also published Essay on Ancient and Modern Literature, where he came out firmly in favor of the modern over the Classics.
Grimke died March 8, 1863 at his bachelor quarters at the Madeira House in Chillicothe, and it was said that when he was moved from there to the grave, not one woman followed his remains to his resting place.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge 1836-1842.
Frederick Grimke was born in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, the son of John Faucheraud Grimke, a Revolutionary War hero and jurist in that state. He graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
at age 19, studied law in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and practiced in that state before moving to Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
in 1818.
From 1820 to 1836, Grimke was President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas In 1836, he was elected a Judge on the Ohio Supreme Court. Throughout this time he wrote essays for the Scioto Gazette (Chillicothe) and Ohio State Journal (Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
). In 1842, literary and philosophical studies became an obsession, and he resigned from the Supreme Court.
In 1846, the 544 page Considerations upon the Nature and Tendency of Free Institutions was published. It was wide ranging, and generally favorable toward democracy. Before he died during the American 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...
, he directed that one copy be delivered to the Federal Government, and one to the Confederate Government. He also published Essay on Ancient and Modern Literature, where he came out firmly in favor of the modern over the Classics.
Grimke died March 8, 1863 at his bachelor quarters at the Madeira House in Chillicothe, and it was said that when he was moved from there to the grave, not one woman followed his remains to his resting place.