James Schouler
Encyclopedia
James Schouler American
lawyer
and historian
, was best known for his historical work History of the United States under the Constitution, 1789-1865.
. He was the son of William Schouler
, who from 1847 to 1853 edited the Boston Atlas, one of the leading Whig
journals of New England
. The son graduated at Harvard
in 1859, studied law
in Boston
and was admitted to the bar there in 1862. In 1869 he removed to Washington, where for three years he published the United States Jurist.
After his return to Boston, in 1874, he devoted himself to office practice and to literary pursuits. He was a lecturer at Boston University School of Law
between 1885 and 1903, a non-resident professor and lecturer in the National University Law School, Washington, DC, in 1887-1909, and a lecturer on American history and constitutional law at Johns Hopkins University
in 1908.
Schouler is best known, however, as an historian. In 1896-1897 he was president of the American Historical Association
.
Among his other publications are:
His legal treatises are:
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 historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, was best known for his historical work History of the United States under the Constitution, 1789-1865.
Biography
Schouler was born in West Cambridge (now Arlington), MassachusettsArlington, Massachusetts
Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, six miles northwest of Boston. The population was 42,844 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. He was the son of William Schouler
William Schouler
William Schouler was an American journalist, politician and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, who from 1847 to 1853 edited the Boston Atlas, one of the leading Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
journals of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. The son graduated at Harvard
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...
in 1859, studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and was admitted to the bar there in 1862. In 1869 he removed to Washington, where for three years he published the United States Jurist.
After his return to Boston, in 1874, he devoted himself to office practice and to literary pursuits. He was a lecturer at Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
between 1885 and 1903, a non-resident professor and lecturer in the National University Law School, Washington, DC, in 1887-1909, and a lecturer on American history and constitutional law at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1908.
Schouler is best known, however, as an historian. In 1896-1897 he was president of the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
.
Works
His most important work is History of the United States under the Constitution, 1789-1865 (7 vols, 1880-1917) whose components include:- v. 1. 1783-1801. Rule of Federalism.
- v. 2. 1801-1817. Jefferson Republicans.
- v. 3. 1817-1831. Era of good feeling.
- v. 4. 1831-1847. Democrats and Whigs.
- v. 5. 1847-1861. Free soil controversy.
- v. 6. 1861-1865. The civil war.
Among his other publications are:
- A Life of Thomas Jefferson (1893)
- Historical Briefs (1896)
- Constitutional Studies, State and Federal (1897)
- Life of Alexander HamiltonAlexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
(1901) - Americans of 1776 (1906)
- Ideals of the Republic (1908)
His legal treatises are:
- The Law of Domestic Relations (1870)
- The Law of Personal Property (1872-1876; new ed., 1907)
- The Law of Bailments (1880)
- The Law of Executors and Administrators (1883)
- The Law of Husband and Wife (1882)
- The Law of Wills (1910)