The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-15
HON. NJ CHAPMAN

DIED in Timmouh, on Wednesday. Feb
18th Hon. Nathaniel Chapman, l.. l.. D.
Professor of Law in Middlebury College, in
the 9lst year of his age.
Judge Chapman was the third person ad-
mitted 10 the practice of law in our Courts,
was at the time of his decease the Oldest
living lawyer in the State, and stood in a.
bility and legal acquisition, as in point of
time, at the head Of the Rutland County
Bar.
He was born in Salisbury, CT. in 1852,
and graduated at Yale College in 1777.
He soon moved TO Vermont and located
himself at Rutland, where he remained un-
til about 1900, then removed 10 Tinmouth,
where he has since resided.
He was admitted TO The bar at the session
of the Superior Court holden ct Rutland,
then in the County of Bennington, on the sec.
ond Thursday of June ITO. By drlli-
gence and attendance TO his profession he
soon earned a well deserved reputation as
lawyer. In Oct. 1876 he was elected
Judge of the Supreme Court and in Oct.
1889 was chosen Chief Justice, which office
he held during the two ensuing yeara. Du-
ring bis life he was Oftenlimes the rep
resentalive of his town to the General As
sembly and lis delegate TO State Convcn-
tons. He was one of the Commissioners
in behalf of Vermont appointed in 1889, to
adjust our differences with New York. In
1890 he was appointed joint commission
er with Lewis r. Morris ESQ. to negotiate
the admission of Vermont into the Union.
This was effected in 1871 when he was ap.
pointed by Washington, Judge of the Unit
ed States District Court for the district Of
Vermont. This Office he retained until
1898, when becoming discontinued with the
inactivity of his duties, he resigned. d.
ring his incumbency he prepared and pub
lished Two books, one-Reports of Judicial
Decisions in our Courts, and Dissertations
upon various branches of our law entitled
Reports and Dissertations" the other a
duodecimo volume entitled principles of
Government. The latter of these was re-
vised and repubished with additions in an
octave form of 333 pages in 1888.
He was again chosen Chief Justice o. our
Supreme Court in 1856, and at the same
time was appointed one of a committee to
revise our Statute laws. The duties of this
committee were mostly discharged by Judge
G. alone, the result of which was the laws
of 1897, which is often now spoken of by
our ablest lawyers, as being the best COM
pila,ion We ever possessed, and which was
said by one competent 10 judge, TO be the
best code of laws that could be found in the
Congressional Library at Washington.
In 1895 he was elected U. s. Senator,
and served this State in that capacity dur
ng The six succeeding years. In October.
1918 he was ele cted Chief Justice of our
Supreme Court, and continued in that office
during the next two years. After leav.
ing the bench in 1915 he continued il,
the practice of the profession but few years.
In 1915 he was chosen Professor of Law
in Midddlebury College 10 supply the va
cancy occasioned by the resignation of his
brother, the Hon. Daniel Chapman. He
continued 10 hold this trust al the time of
MS death, though for several years past, the
professorship has been nominal one.
Judge Chipman's attsiments in literature
and science, his legal requirements and his
distinguished reputation as a jurist and states
man are too well known 10 require more
than an allusion 10 them in order 10 do JUS
lice 10 his memory, His works, his private
and professional reputation, the many and
important Offices he held. the duties Of which
he discharged with faihfulness and integrity
all bear ample testimony 10 his ability and
his worth. C. K. w. Herald.