John A. Lott
Encyclopedia
John Abraham Lott was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
. Then he studied law with Henry E. Werner in New York City
. On February 16, 1829, he married his first cousin Catherine Lott (b. 1807). In 1835, he began practicing law in Brooklyn
with Henry C. Murphy
, and soon entered politics as a Democrat.
In 1838, he was appointed by Governor William L. Marcy
Judge of the Kings County Court. He was a member from Kings County of the New York State Assembly
in 1842. He was member of the New York State Senate
(1st District) from 1843 to 1846. In 1849
, he ran on the Democratic ticket for New York State Comptroller
, but was defeated by the incumbent Whig Washington Hunt
.
He was a justice of the New York Supreme Court
(2nd District) from 1858 to 1869, elected in 1857 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Rockwell, and re-elected in 1861 to a full eight-year term. He was ex officio a judge of the Court of Appeals in 1861 and 1869.
In 1869
, he was elected to an eight-year term on the New York Court of Appeals
, but at the same election a constitutional amendment re-organized the Court of Appeals, and Lott remained on the bench only for six months, until July 4, 1870, when the new judges took office. However, Lott was appointed a Commissioner of Appeals.
In 1874, he was made president of the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railway, but resigned a few weeks before his death. At the time of his death he was president of the Flatbush Board of Improvement. During the last two years of his life, he had suffered from diabetes. He died suddenly, dropping dead in the bathroom
of his residence. He was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery
in Brooklyn.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of Abraham Lott and Maria Lott. He was educated at the Flatbush Academy, and graduated from Union CollegeUnion College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
. Then he studied law with Henry E. Werner in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. On February 16, 1829, he married his first cousin Catherine Lott (b. 1807). In 1835, he began practicing law in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
with Henry C. Murphy
Henry Cruse Murphy
Henry Cruse Murphy was an American politician and historian, born in Brooklyn, N. Y. He graduated at Columbia College in 1830, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, where he became city attorney and, in 1842, mayor. The next year he became a member of Congress...
, and soon entered politics as a Democrat.
In 1838, he was appointed by Governor William L. Marcy
William L. Marcy
William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:...
Judge of the Kings County Court. He was a member from Kings County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1842. He was member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
(1st District) from 1843 to 1846. In 1849
New York state election, 1849
The 1849 New York state election was held on November 6, 1849, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, a Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioner and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
, he ran on the Democratic ticket for New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
, but was defeated by the incumbent Whig Washington Hunt
Washington Hunt
Washington Hunt was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He moved to Lockport, New York in 1828 to study law, was admitted to the bar in 1834, and opened a law office on Market Street in 1835...
.
He was a justice of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
(2nd District) from 1858 to 1869, elected in 1857 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Rockwell, and re-elected in 1861 to a full eight-year term. He was ex officio a judge of the Court of Appeals in 1861 and 1869.
In 1869
New York state election, 1869
The 1869 New York state election was held on November 2, 1869, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, two Judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioners and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
, he was elected to an eight-year term on 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...
, but at the same election a constitutional amendment re-organized the Court of Appeals, and Lott remained on the bench only for six months, until July 4, 1870, when the new judges took office. However, Lott was appointed a Commissioner of Appeals.
In 1874, he was made president of the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railway, but resigned a few weeks before his death. At the time of his death he was president of the Flatbush Board of Improvement. During the last two years of his life, he had suffered from diabetes. He died suddenly, dropping dead in the bathroom
Bathroom
A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet....
of his residence. He was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
in Brooklyn.
Sources
- http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/elecbook/thereshallbe/pg94.htm Court of Appeals judges
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 134f, 143, 226, 288 and 350; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- TWO NOTED JURISTS DEAD.; JUDGE LOTT STRICKEN DOWN WITHOUT WARNING in NYT on July 21, 1878 [gives wrong birthyear "1805"]
- Genealogy of the Lefferts Family, 1650-1878 by Teunis G. Bergen (BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2009, ISBN 055999883X , ISBN 9780559998836 ; page 89)
- The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans edited by Rossiter Johnson & John Howard Brown (The Biographical Society, 1904)
- Historical Sketch of the Zabriskie Homestead (removed 1877), Flatbush, L.I.: with biographical accounts of some of those who have resided in it by P. L. Schenck, A. O. Zabriskie & Jeremiah Lott (1881)
- FUNERAL OF EX-JUDGE LOTT in NYT on July 24, 1878