William S. Holabird
Encyclopedia
William S. Holabird was an American
lawyer
, politician
and Lieutenant Governor
of Connecticut
.
, the son of William D. Holabird and his wife, the former Dorcas Bird. He married Adeline/Adaline Catlin, daughter of Abijah and Orinda (Williams) Catlin.
in 1834 as U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. As such he presented the government's argument in the Amistad case.
Holabird was later elected the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut for two consecutive terms, serving from May 4, 1842 to May 1, 1844, while Chauncey Fitch Cleveland
was governor. Cleveland was succeeded as governor in 1844 by Roger S. Baldwin from the Whig party
. Baldwin was known for his defence in the Amistad Case, where Holabird had been the government's attorney.
William S. Holabird died at Winchester
, Litchfield County, Connecticut, on May 20, 1855.
in 1997 in which Pete Postlethwaite
portrayed William S. Holabird.
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...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Early life
William S. Holabird was born circa 1794 reportedly at Canaan, ConnecticutCanaan, Connecticut
Canaan is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census. The town of Canaan is often referred to locally by the name of its principal constituent village, Falls Village.-Geography:...
, the son of William D. Holabird and his wife, the former Dorcas Bird. He married Adeline/Adaline Catlin, daughter of Abijah and Orinda (Williams) Catlin.
Career
In 1831 and 1833 he was unsuccessful as a Democratic candidate for Congress and was appointed by Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in 1834 as U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. As such he presented the government's argument in the Amistad case.
Holabird was later elected the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut for two consecutive terms, serving from May 4, 1842 to May 1, 1844, while Chauncey Fitch Cleveland
Chauncey Fitch Cleveland
Chauncey Fitch Cleveland was a United States Representative and the 31st Governor of Connecticut. Born in Canterbury, Connecticut, he attended the common schools and taught school from the age of fifteen to twenty. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1819 and commenced practice in Hampton...
was governor. Cleveland was succeeded as governor in 1844 by Roger S. Baldwin from the Whig party
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...
. Baldwin was known for his defence in the Amistad Case, where Holabird had been the government's attorney.
William S. Holabird died at Winchester
Winchester, Connecticut
Winchester is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,664 at the 2000 census. The Incorporated City of Winsted is located in Winchester.-Geography:...
, Litchfield County, Connecticut, on May 20, 1855.
William S. Holabird in Popular Culture
A simplified version of the events regarding the Amistad case was made into a movie called AmistadAmistad (1997 film)
Amistad is a 1997 historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg based on the true story of a mutiny in 1839 by newly captured African slaves that took place aboard the ship La Amistad off the coast of Cuba, the subsequent voyage to the Northeastern United States and the legal battle that...
in 1997 in which Pete Postlethwaite
Pete Postlethwaite
Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite, OBE, was an English stage, film and television actor.After minor television appearances including in The Professionals, Postlethwaite's first success came with the film Distant Voices, Still Lives in 1988. He played a mysterious lawyer, Mr...
portrayed William S. Holabird.