George Grafton Wilson
Encyclopedia
George Grafton Wilson was distinguished professor of International Law
during the first half of the 20th century, serving on the faculties of Brown University
, Harvard University
, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the U.S. Naval War College
.
, taking his A.B.
in 1886, his A.M.
in 1888 and his Ph.D.
in 1891. He went to Europe and studied at Heidelberg University, Berlin University, University of Paris
and Oxford University in 1890-91. On his return, he married Elizabeth Rose on June 30, 1891, with whom he was to have four children: Grafton Lee Wilson, Miriam Wilson (Mrs. Paul Harrison Arthur), Rose Wilson (Mrs. Harry Gray Anderson), and Brayton Fuller Wilson.
, 1886–87, and then Principal, Rutland High School, Rutland, Vermont
in 1889-90. In 1891, Brown University
appointed him associate professor of social
and political science
s and he was promoted to full professor
in 1894. In 1910, Harvard University
appointed him professor of International Law, an academic post he held until he retired in 1936.
During this same period, he served as professor of International Law at the U.S. Naval War College
from 1900 to 1937. In addition, he was appointed professor of International Law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1933 for a number of years. He served as special counsel, U.S. Maritime Commn., 1941–1945; lecturer in International Law at the University of Hawaii
, 2d semester, 1937.
On overseas assignments, he was an American delegate plenipotentiary to the London Naval Conference
in 1908-09; counselor at the American Legation at The Hague during the early period of World War I
from 1914. He served as an exchange professor to France in 1912-13. At the Hague in August 1914 Wilson aided U.S. Minister Henry Van Dyke to alleviate the distress of American travelers stranded in Europe by the war. He served as Legal adviser for the U.S. mission for return of Dutch ships in 1919 and was a member of the legal staff at the Washington Naval Conference
in 1921-22. In 1923, he was lecturer at the Hague Academy of International Law
. He was the American member of the International Commission for the United States and The Netherlands in 1928. In 1928, he was designated by Nicaragua
as member of the International Central American Tribunal.
He served as a member of the board of editors of the American Journal of International Law
from 1907, becoming Law editor-in-chief, 1924–43 and then honorary editor-in-chief from 1943. He was also director of the Revue de Droit International from 1913 and Membre de l’Institut de Droit International
; fellow and later vice president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and vice president of the American Society of International Law
.
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
during the first half of the 20th century, serving on the faculties of Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the U.S. Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
.
Early life and education
The son of Archibald A. Wilson and his wife, Betsey L. Brown, Wilson earned all three of his academic degrees at Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, taking his A.B.
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...
in 1886, his A.M.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1888 and his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1891. He went to Europe and studied at Heidelberg University, Berlin University, University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
and Oxford University in 1890-91. On his return, he married Elizabeth Rose on June 30, 1891, with whom he was to have four children: Grafton Lee Wilson, Miriam Wilson (Mrs. Paul Harrison Arthur), Rose Wilson (Mrs. Harry Gray Anderson), and Brayton Fuller Wilson.
Academic career
Wilson's first appointment was as principal of schools, Groton, ConnecticutGroton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
, 1886–87, and then Principal, Rutland High School, Rutland, Vermont
Rutland (town), Vermont
Rutland is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,054 at the 2010 census. Rutland completely surrounds the city of Rutland, which is incorporated separately from the town of Rutland.-History:...
in 1889-90. In 1891, Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
appointed him associate professor of social
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
s and he was promoted to full professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in 1894. In 1910, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
appointed him professor of International Law, an academic post he held until he retired in 1936.
During this same period, he served as professor of International Law at the U.S. Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
from 1900 to 1937. In addition, he was appointed professor of International Law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1933 for a number of years. He served as special counsel, U.S. Maritime Commn., 1941–1945; lecturer in International Law at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
, 2d semester, 1937.
On overseas assignments, he was an American delegate plenipotentiary to the London Naval Conference
London Naval Conference
There were three major international naval conferences in London, the first in 1908-09, the second in 1930 and the third in 1935. The latter two, together with the Washington Naval Conference in 1921-22 and the Geneva Conferences , resulted in agreements between the major powers on navy vessel...
in 1908-09; counselor at the American Legation at The Hague during the early period of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
from 1914. He served as an exchange professor to France in 1912-13. At the Hague in August 1914 Wilson aided U.S. Minister Henry Van Dyke to alleviate the distress of American travelers stranded in Europe by the war. He served as Legal adviser for the U.S. mission for return of Dutch ships in 1919 and was a member of the legal staff at the Washington Naval Conference
Washington Naval Conference
The Washington Naval Conference also called the Washington Arms Conference, was a military conference called by President Warren G. Harding and held in Washington from 12 November 1921 to 6 February 1922. Conducted outside the auspices of the League of Nations, it was attended by nine nations...
in 1921-22. In 1923, he was lecturer at the Hague Academy of International Law
Hague Academy of International Law
The Hague Academy of International Law is a center for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands...
. He was the American member of the International Commission for the United States and The Netherlands in 1928. In 1928, he was designated by Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
as member of the International Central American Tribunal.
He served as a member of the board of editors of the American Journal of International Law
American Journal of International Law
The American Journal of International Law is an English-language scholarly journal focusing on international law and international relations...
from 1907, becoming Law editor-in-chief, 1924–43 and then honorary editor-in-chief from 1943. He was also director of the Revue de Droit International from 1913 and Membre de l’Institut de Droit International
Institut de droit international
The Institut de droit international is an organization devoted to the study and development of international law, whose membership comprises the world's leading public international lawyers...
; fellow and later vice president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
and vice president of the American Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
The American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
.
Published works
- Town and City Government in Providence, (1899)
- Insurgency, (1900)
- Submarine Telegraph Cables in Their International Relations, (1901)
- International Law Situations, U.S. Naval War College, editor for 36 annual volunes, (1902–37)
- International Law (with George Fox Tucker), (1901, ten additions to 1937)
- L’Insurrection, (1902)
- International Law, Hornbook series, (1910, 3d edit., 1939)
- The Hague Arbitration Cases, (1915)
- The First Year of the League of Nations, (1921)
- Wheaton’s International Law, Editor of centenary edition; Carnegie classics, (1936)