Henry R. Selden
Encyclopedia
Henry Rogers Selden was an American
lawyer
and politician
. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York
from 1857 to 1858. He defended Susan B. Anthony
in her 1873 trial for unlawfully voting as a woman.
, in 1825 to study law in the firm of Addison Gardiner
and Selden’s brother Samuel L. Selden
. He was admitted to the bar in 1830 and commenced practice in Clarkson, New York
.
On September 25, 1834, Selden married Laura Anne Baldwin at Clarkson, and they had three sons and two daughters, among them George Baldwin Selden, who became the first person to be granted a patent
for the automobile
.
Selden became the case reporter for the New York State Court of Appeals in 1851. Originally a Democrat, he became an abolitionist and founding member of the New York Republican Party in 1856, and was elected Lieutenant Governor that November. In 1858, Yale College
conferred the degree of LL.D. on him. He returned to Rochester in 1859. He was a Delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention
.
In July 1862, Henry R. Selden was appointed a judge of the New York Court of Appeals
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his brother Samuel. In November 1863, he was re-elected to an eight-year term, but resigned on January 2, 1865.
In 1870, he was nominated by the Republican Party for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, but was defeated by Democrat Sanford E. Church
.
In 1872 Selden was involved in the convention of the Liberal Republican Party in Cincinnati. Partisan bickering there led him to retire from politics. He spent the latter portion of the year and the first half of 1873 involved in Anthony’s case, for which he never billed Anthony. Selden retired from law in 1879.
He was buried near Anthony at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester
.
Selden, New York
is named for him, as well as New Mexico
's Fort Seldon
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
from 1857 to 1858. He defended Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
in her 1873 trial for unlawfully voting as a woman.
Life
He was the son of Calvin Selden and Phebe (Ely) Selden. He moved to Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, in 1825 to study law in the firm of Addison Gardiner
Addison Gardiner
Addison Gardiner was an American lawyer and politician who was the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1854 to 1855.-Early life and career:...
and Selden’s brother Samuel L. Selden
Samuel L. Selden
Samuel Lee Selden was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals in 1862.-Life:...
. He was admitted to the bar in 1830 and commenced practice in Clarkson, New York
Clarkson, New York
Clarkson is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 6,736 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General Matthew Clarkson.The Town of Clarkson is on the west border of the county and is west of the City of Rochester.-History:...
.
On September 25, 1834, Selden married Laura Anne Baldwin at Clarkson, and they had three sons and two daughters, among them George Baldwin Selden, who became the first person to be granted a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
for the automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
.
Selden became the case reporter for the New York State Court of Appeals in 1851. Originally a Democrat, he became an abolitionist and founding member of the New York Republican Party in 1856, and was elected Lieutenant Governor that November. In 1858, Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
conferred the degree of LL.D. on him. He returned to Rochester in 1859. He was a Delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
The 1860 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States, held in Chicago, Illinois at the Wigwam, nominated former U.S. Representative Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for President and U.S. Senator Hannibal Hamlin of Maine for Vice President...
.
In July 1862, Henry R. Selden was appointed a judge of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his brother Samuel. In November 1863, he was re-elected to an eight-year term, but resigned on January 2, 1865.
In 1870, he was nominated by the Republican Party for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, but was defeated by Democrat Sanford E. Church
Sanford E. Church
Sanford Elias Church was an American lawyer and Democratic politician...
.
In 1872 Selden was involved in the convention of the Liberal Republican Party in Cincinnati. Partisan bickering there led him to retire from politics. He spent the latter portion of the year and the first half of 1873 involved in Anthony’s case, for which he never billed Anthony. Selden retired from law in 1879.
He was buried near Anthony at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester
Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester
Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York, founded in 1838, is the United States' first municipal rural cemetery. Situated on 196 acres of land adjacent to the University of Rochester on Mount Hope Avenue, the cemetery is the permanent resting place of over 350,000 people...
.
Selden, New York
Selden, New York
Selden is a hamlet in the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 21,861 at the 2000 census.-Early Settlement:...
is named for him, as well as New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
's Fort Seldon
Fort Seldon
Fort Selden was a US Cavalry fort named in honor of Henry R. Selden, and located in Doña Ana County, 12 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The fort was in operation from 1865 through 1891, and through its years it garrisoned numerous units of the famed Buffalo Soldiers. General Douglas...
.