Complex sentence: He graduated from Columbia College (now Columbia University), where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, in 1854; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1857 and commenced practice in New York City.
Split into simpler sentences: He graduated from Columbia College (now Columbia University), where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, in 1854. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1857, and commenced practice in New York City.