John Bouvier
Encyclopedia
John Bouvier American
jurist
and legal lexicographer, was born in Codognan, France.
In 1802 his family, who were Quakers
(his mother was a member of the well-known Benezet family), emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. In 1808, he began a printing business, and in 1810, he wed Elizabeth Widdifield, with whom he had one daughter, Hannah Mary Bouvier. Bouvier became a citizen of the United States in 1812, and thereafter had varied experiences as proprietor of a book shop and as a country editor before he was admitted to the bar in 1818, under the tutelage of Andrew Stuart.
He attained high standing in his profession, was recorder of Philadelphia in 1836, and from 1838 until his death was an associate justice of the court of criminal sessions in that city. He was best known, however, for his able legal writings.
Dissatisfied with the tendency of treatises to focus on British laws no longer applicable to the United States, Bouvier set out to write his own American law dictionary. His Law Dictionary Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America and of the Several States of the American Union (1839, revised and brought up to date by Francis Rawle, under the title of Bouvier's Law Dictionary
, 2 vols, 1897) was well received, garnering praise even from Justices then sitting on the United States Supreme Court. Bouvier also published an edition of Bacon's Abridgment of the Law (10 vols, 1842-1846), and a compendium of American law entitled The Institutes of American Law (4 vols, 1851; new ed. 2 vols, 1876). New editions of his Law Dictionary were put out by Bouvier in 1843 and 1848, and by his successors in interest following his death in 1851.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and legal lexicographer, was born in Codognan, France.
In 1802 his family, who were Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
(his mother was a member of the well-known Benezet family), emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. In 1808, he began a printing business, and in 1810, he wed Elizabeth Widdifield, with whom he had one daughter, Hannah Mary Bouvier. Bouvier became a citizen of the United States in 1812, and thereafter had varied experiences as proprietor of a book shop and as a country editor before he was admitted to the bar in 1818, under the tutelage of Andrew Stuart.
He attained high standing in his profession, was recorder of Philadelphia in 1836, and from 1838 until his death was an associate justice of the court of criminal sessions in that city. He was best known, however, for his able legal writings.
Dissatisfied with the tendency of treatises to focus on British laws no longer applicable to the United States, Bouvier set out to write his own American law dictionary. His Law Dictionary Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America and of the Several States of the American Union (1839, revised and brought up to date by Francis Rawle, under the title of Bouvier's Law Dictionary
Bouvier's Law Dictionary
Bouvier's Law Dictionary is a book with a long tradition in the United States legal community. The first edition was written by John Bouvier.John Bouvier was born in Codogno, France, but came to the United States at an early age. He became a U.S. citizen in 1812, was admitted to the bar in 1818,...
, 2 vols, 1897) was well received, garnering praise even from Justices then sitting on the United States Supreme Court. Bouvier also published an edition of Bacon's Abridgment of the Law (10 vols, 1842-1846), and a compendium of American law entitled The Institutes of American Law (4 vols, 1851; new ed. 2 vols, 1876). New editions of his Law Dictionary were put out by Bouvier in 1843 and 1848, and by his successors in interest following his death in 1851.