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American judge From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Russell Smith Taft (January 28, 1835 – March 22, 1902) was a lawyer, politician and judge who served as the 29th lieutenant governor of Vermont and chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
Russell S. Taft | |
|---|---|
| |
| Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court | |
| In office January 12, 1899 – March 22, 1902 | |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Ross |
| Succeeded by | John W. Rowell |
| Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court | |
| In office December 17, 1880 – January 11, 1899 | |
| Preceded by | James Barrett |
| Succeeded by | John H. Watson |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Burlington | |
| In office October 6, 1880 – December 16, 1880 | |
| Preceded by | Bradley B. Smalley |
| Succeeded by | Robert Roberts |
| Lieutenant Governor of Vermont | |
| In office October 3, 1872 – October 8, 1874 | |
| Governor | Julius Converse |
| Preceded by | George N. Dale |
| Succeeded by | Lyman G. Hinckley |
| Member of the Vermont Senate from Chittenden County | |
| In office October 12, 1865 – October 10, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | Leverett B. Englesby, Amos Hobart, Anson J. Crane |
| Succeeded by | John L. Barstow, Edgar H. Lane, Eleazer R. Hard |
| Register of Probate for Vermont's Chittenden District | |
| In office 1866–1878 | |
| Preceded by | W. S. Burnap |
| Succeeded by | Elihu B. Taft |
| State's Attorney of Chittenden County, Vermont | |
| In office 1862–1865 | |
| Preceded by | Jeremiah French |
| Succeeded by | Leverett B. Englesby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 28, 1835 Williston, Vermont, US |
| Died | March 22, 1902 (aged 67) Burlington, Vermont, US |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Melinda L. Carlisle (m. 1858-1873, her death) Jane Marlett Wyatt (m. 1876-1902, his death) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Williston Academy, Williston, Vermont Newbury Academy, Newbury, Vermont |
| Profession | Attorney |
Russell Smith Taft was born in Williston, Vermont, on January 28, 1835, the seventh of the children born to Elijah and Orinda (Kimball) Taft.[1] He attended schools in Williston and Burlington, and completed his schooling at Williston Academy in Williston and Newbury Academy in Newbury.[2] He taught school in Williston and Richmond, then studied law with George F. Edmunds, Torrey E. Wales and others, and attained admission to the bar in 1856.[3][4]
After passing the bar, Taft practiced in Burlington in partnership with Wales for 21 years.[3] Among the prospective attorneys who learned the law in the Wales and Taft office was Rufus E. Brown, who later served as Vermont Attorney General.[5] Taft was also the first president of the Vermont Life Insurance Company, and later served as its vice president.[6][7][8]
Taft was an author on legal and historical topics, and his articles were carried in The Green Bag and other publications.[9] One of his works, an essay on English common law, resulted in membership in London's Selden Society.[9]
In February 1864, Taft became a member of the Royal Arch Masonry chapter in Burlington.[10] In April 1864, he joined the Knights Templar Masonic organization.[10] As a member of the Scottish Rite, he attained the 32nd degree and served as commander in chief of the Vermont consistory.[10]
A Republican, Taft served as a selectman for the Town of Burlington from 1861 to 1864. After Burlington was incorporated as a city, Taft served as an alderman from 1865 to 1869.[11]
From 1862 to 1865 Taft was Chittenden County State's Attorney, and he was Chittenden County's Register of Probate from 1863 to 1880.[12]
Taft served in the Vermont Senate from 1865 to 1867, and he was Burlington's City Attorney from 1871 to 1872.[13][14]
In 1872 Taft was the successful Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, and he served from October 1872 to October 1874.[15][16] In 1874 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, losing to Asahel Peck.[17]
Taft represented Burlington in the Vermont House of Representatives in 1880.[18][19][20]
In 1880 the Vermont Assembly elected Taft an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.[2] He served until 1899, when he was appointed chief justice, replacing Jonathan Ross, who had been appointed to the United States Senate.[21][22] He was succeeded as an associate justice by John H. Watson.[23]
Taft served as chief justice until his death, and was succeeded by John W. Rowell. He died in Burlington, Vermont, on March 22, 1902.[24][25][26]
Chief Justice Taft was the recipient of two honorary degrees from the University of Vermont.[27] In 1877, he received an honorary Master of Arts.[27] He received an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1899.[27]
In 1858, Taft married Melinda L. Carlisle of Malone, New York.[3] She died in 1873, and they had no children.[3] In 1876, Taft married Jane (Marlett) Wyatt, a Burlington teacher who served as principal of the city's grammar school.[21] With his second wife, Taft was the father of Russell Wales Taft (1878-1912), who practiced law in Burlington.[3]
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