Homer Elihu Royce
Encyclopedia
Homer Elihu Royce was an American
lawyer, politician and jurist.
, the son of Elihu Marvin and Sophronia (Parker) Royce. He was educated in the district schools and at academies in St. Albans and Enosburgh. He studied law with Thomas Childs, was admitted to the bar in 1844, and partnered with Mr. Childs for several years in his hometown. The University of Vermont
conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 1851, and Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) in 1882. He married, January 23, 1851, Mary T. Edmunds, of Boston, Massachusetts, who bore him three children.
in 1846 and 1847, and represented Berkshire in the Vermont Legislature the latter year as well. He was a district delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1847. In 1849, 1850, 1851, 1861 and 1868, he was elected to the Vermont Senate
from Franklin County.
In 1856 he was elected by a majority of 5,960 votes as a Republican Party
representative to Congress
from the Third district, becoming the youngest member of the Vermont contingent in Washington. He served two terms, from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1861. During his first term he was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He won a second term by a majority of 4,129 votes. During his second term, he wrote a part of the Foreign Affairs Committee report opposting annexation of Cuba, and delivered a speech in opposition to President James Buchanan
's Cuban policy. Senator Jacob Collamer
spoke out against the acquisition as well.
Royce did not run for a third term. He returned to his law practice until he was elected as an associate justice in the Vermont Supreme Court
in 1870. He was appointed chief justice in 1882, replacing John Pierpoint, and served until 1890, when he resigned.
Royce died in St. Albans
, and is interred in Cavalry Cemetery, East Berkshire.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, politician and jurist.
Early life
Royce was born in Berkshire, VermontBerkshire, Vermont
Berkshire is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,388 at the 2000 census. It contains the unincorporated village of East Berkshire.-Geography:...
, the son of Elihu Marvin and Sophronia (Parker) Royce. He was educated in the district schools and at academies in St. Albans and Enosburgh. He studied law with Thomas Childs, was admitted to the bar in 1844, and partnered with Mr. Childs for several years in his hometown. The University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 1851, and Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) in 1882. He married, January 23, 1851, Mary T. Edmunds, of Boston, Massachusetts, who bore him three children.
Politics
He was state's attorney for Franklin CountyFranklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
in 1846 and 1847, and represented Berkshire in the Vermont Legislature the latter year as well. He was a district delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1847. In 1849, 1850, 1851, 1861 and 1868, he was elected to the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
from Franklin County.
In 1856 he was elected by a majority of 5,960 votes as a Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
representative to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from the Third district, becoming the youngest member of the Vermont contingent in Washington. He served two terms, from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1861. During his first term he was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He won a second term by a majority of 4,129 votes. During his second term, he wrote a part of the Foreign Affairs Committee report opposting annexation of Cuba, and delivered a speech in opposition to President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
's Cuban policy. Senator Jacob Collamer
Jacob Collamer
Jacob Collamer was an American politician from Vermont.-Biography:Jacob Collamer was born in Troy, New York. He graduated from the University of Vermont at Burlington, served in the War of 1812, studied law in St. Albans, Vermont, was admitted to the bar in 1813, and served as an officer in a...
spoke out against the acquisition as well.
Royce did not run for a third term. He returned to his law practice until he was elected as an associate justice in the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
in 1870. He was appointed chief justice in 1882, replacing John Pierpoint, and served until 1890, when he resigned.
Royce died in St. Albans
St. Albans, Vermont
Places named St. Albans, Vermont:*St. Albans , Vermont, town in Franklin County, Vermont, established in 1763**St. Albans Raid, 1864*St. Albans , Vermont, city in Franklin County, Vermont, established in 1902...
, and is interred in Cavalry Cemetery, East Berkshire.