John B. Stanchfield
Encyclopedia
John Barry Stanchfield was an American lawyer and politician from New York
. He was a prominent litigator and the Democratic
gubernatorial candidate in 1900.
in 1876, and from Harvard Law School
in 1878. He commenced the practice of law in Elmira in partnership with David B. Hill
, later Governor of New York (1885–1891). Afterwards he was a partner in the Elmira law firm of Reynolds, Stanchfield & Collin (named Sayles & Evans
since 1945).
Stanchfield was District attorney of Chemung County from 1880 to 1885, and Mayor of Elmira from 1886 to 1888. In 1886, he married Clara S. spaulding, and they had two children. He was a member from Chemung County of the New York State Assembly
in 1895 and 1896. Afterwards he removed to New York City
, and became a partner in the New York City
law firm of Chadbourne, Stanchfield & Levy (now Chadbourne & Parke
).
In 1900, he ran for Governor of New York
, but was defeated by Republican Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.. In 1903
, Stanchfield was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from New York, but was defeated by the incumbent Republican Thomas C. Platt
.
Stabchfield was a delegate to the 1904
and 1912 Democratic National Convention
s, and a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1915.
He died of kidney failure, and was buried in Elmira.
and secured the dismissal of an indictment, earning a fee of $30,000.
In 1909, he defended F. Augustus Heinze
against accusations of misapplying funds of the Mercantile National Bank, and received a fee of $800,000 after Heinze's acquittal.
He represented the State of New York at the impeachment trial of Governor William Sulzer
in 1913, and at the trial of the suspended Socialist assemblymen (Louis Waldman
, August Claessens
, Charles Solomon
) in 1920.
In 1915, he secured the release of Harry Kendall Thaw from the Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.
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...
. He was a prominent litigator and the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
gubernatorial candidate in 1900.
Life
He was the son of Dr. John K. Stanchfield. He graduated from Amherst CollegeAmherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1876, and from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1878. He commenced the practice of law in Elmira in partnership with David B. Hill
David B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
, later Governor of New York (1885–1891). Afterwards he was a partner in the Elmira law firm of Reynolds, Stanchfield & Collin (named Sayles & Evans
Sayles & Evans
Sayles & Evans is a general practice law firm located in Elmira, New York. The firm primarily serves clients in the Southern Tier of New York, including individuals, small and large businesses, banks, educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and estates and trusts. The firm was...
since 1945).
Stanchfield was District attorney of Chemung County from 1880 to 1885, and Mayor of Elmira from 1886 to 1888. In 1886, he married Clara S. spaulding, and they had two children. He was a member from Chemung 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 1895 and 1896. Afterwards he removed to 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...
, and became a partner in the 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...
law firm of Chadbourne, Stanchfield & Levy (now Chadbourne & Parke
Chadbourne & Parke
Chadbourne & Parke LLP, founded in 1902 by Thomas L. Chadbourne, currently has some 400 lawyers and tax advisors in 13 offices in ten countries...
).
In 1900, he ran for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, but was defeated by Republican Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.. In 1903
United States Senate election in New York, 1903
The 1903 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20, 1903, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:Republican Thomas C...
, Stanchfield was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from New York, but was defeated by the incumbent Republican Thomas C. Platt
Thomas C. Platt
Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century...
.
Stabchfield was a delegate to the 1904
1904 Democratic National Convention
The 1904 Democratic National Convention was a United States presidential nominating convention that took place during the 1904 World's Fair and the 1904 Summer Olympics in the Coliseum of the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall in St. Louis, Missouri. The convention nominated Alton B. Parker of...
and 1912 Democratic National Convention
1912 Democratic National Convention
The 1912 Democratic National Convention was held at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore from June 25 to July 2, 1912. It proved to be one of the more memorable United States presidential conventions of the twentieth century. The main candidates were House Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri and...
s, and a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1915.
He died of kidney failure, and was buried in Elmira.
His cases
Shortly after his removal to New York City, he appeared for Richard Albert CanfieldRichard Albert Canfield
Richard Albert Canfield was a prominent American businessman and art collector involved in illegal gambling throughout the northeastern United States during the late 19th and early 20th century...
and secured the dismissal of an indictment, earning a fee of $30,000.
In 1909, he defended F. Augustus Heinze
F. Augustus Heinze
Fritz Augustus Heinze was one of the three "Copper Kings" of Butte, Montana, along with William Andrews Clark and Marcus Daly...
against accusations of misapplying funds of the Mercantile National Bank, and received a fee of $800,000 after Heinze's acquittal.
He represented the State of New York at the impeachment trial of Governor William Sulzer
William Sulzer
William Sulzer was an American lawyer and politician, nicknamed Plain Bill Sulzer. He was the 39th Governor of New York and a long-serving congressman from the same state. He was the first and so far only New York Governor to be impeached...
in 1913, and at the trial of the suspended Socialist assemblymen (Louis Waldman
Louis Waldman
Louis Waldman was a leading figure in the Socialist Party of America from the late 1910s and through the middle 1930s, a founding member of the Social Democratic Federation, and a prominent New York labor lawyer.-Early years:...
, August Claessens
August Claessens
August "Gus" Claessens was an American socialist politician, best known as one of the five New York Assemblymen expelled from that body during the First Red Scare for their membership in the Socialist Party of America...
, Charles Solomon
Charles Solomon (politician)
Charles "Charley" Solomon was a socialist politician from New York City, elected to the New York State Assembly in 1919 and expelled with four of his fellows on the first day of the legislative session, one week after the sensational Palmer Raids...
) in 1920.
In 1915, he secured the release of Harry Kendall Thaw from the Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/stafseth-standifer.html Political Graveyard [gives wrong birthdate, and wrong year for U.S. Senate election]
- JOHN B. STANCHFIELD, LAWYER, DIES AT 66 in NYT on June 26, 1921