William B. Hornblower
Encyclopedia
William Butler Hornblower (May 13, 1851 – June 16, 1914) was a New York
jurist who was unsuccessfully nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President Grover Cleveland
in 1893.
, New Jersey
in 1851. He was the son of William Henry Hornblower, a Presbyterian minister, and his wife, Mathilda Butler. Hornblower was the descendant of an old American family; his great-grandfather, Josiah Hornblower
, was a member of the Continental Congress
. In 1882 he married Sandra C. Sanford, with whom he had three children. After Sandra died, Hornblower married her sister, Emily Sanford Nelson, who was herself a widow. Hornblower graduated from Princeton University
in 1871 and the law school of Columbia College
in 1875.
law firm of Carter & Eaton until 1888, when he and two partners formed their own firm. A lifelong Democrat
, in 1890 he was appointed by New York governor David B. Hill
to a commission on state constitutional amendments.
Hornblower worked to defeat Isaac H. Maynard
, Hill's preferred candidate for a seat on the New York Court of Appeals
, in 1891, earning Hill's enmity. Hornblower was nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President Cleveland in 1893. New York's U.S. Senators, one of whom was Hill, opposed the nomination, as did several pro-silver
Democratic Senators. The nomination was referred to committee and rejected after several months' delay by a 24-30 vote.
Following his defeat, Hornblower returned to his successful New York law practice. In 1904, he was elected President of the New York State Bar Association
. That same year, Hornblower served on a committee charged with consolidating the state's laws. In 1907 he formed a new law firm, Hornblower, Miller and Potter, a predecessor to the modern firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher
. In 1913, he was appointed president of the New York City Bar Association. Shortly before his death, Hornblower was appointed to a seat on the New York Court of Appeals
, but served for just ten weeks.
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...
jurist who was unsuccessfully nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
in 1893.
Early life and education
William Butler Hownblower was born in PatersonPaterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1851. He was the son of William Henry Hornblower, a Presbyterian minister, and his wife, Mathilda Butler. Hornblower was the descendant of an old American family; his great-grandfather, Josiah Hornblower
Josiah Hornblower
Josiah Hornblower was an English engineer and statesman in America Belleville, New Jersey. He was a delegate for New Jersey in the Continental Congress in 1785 and 1786.-Engineering career :...
, was a member of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. In 1882 he married Sandra C. Sanford, with whom he had three children. After Sandra died, Hornblower married her sister, Emily Sanford Nelson, who was herself a widow. Hornblower graduated from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1871 and the law school of Columbia College
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1875.
Legal and political career
After graduating from Columbia, he practiced law with the New York bankruptcyBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
law firm of Carter & Eaton until 1888, when he and two partners formed their own firm. A lifelong Democrat
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...
, in 1890 he was appointed by New York governor 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:...
to a commission on state constitutional amendments.
Hornblower worked to defeat Isaac H. Maynard
Isaac H. Maynard
Isaac Horton Maynard was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
, Hill's preferred candidate for a seat 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...
, in 1891, earning Hill's enmity. Hornblower was nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President Cleveland in 1893. New York's U.S. Senators, one of whom was Hill, opposed the nomination, as did several pro-silver
Silverite
The Silverites were members of a political movement in the United States in the late-19th century that advocated that silver should continue to be a monetary standard along with gold, as authorized under the Coinage Act of 1792...
Democratic Senators. The nomination was referred to committee and rejected after several months' delay by a 24-30 vote.
Following his defeat, Hornblower returned to his successful New York law practice. In 1904, he was elected President of the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
. That same year, Hornblower served on a committee charged with consolidating the state's laws. In 1907 he formed a new law firm, Hornblower, Miller and Potter, a predecessor to the modern firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Founded in 1888, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm with eight offices in six countries . The firm has cultivated a strong corporate practice focused on investment funds, bankruptcy and intellectual property...
. In 1913, he was appointed president of the New York City Bar Association. Shortly before his death, Hornblower was appointed to a seat 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 served for just ten weeks.