The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-07
EDWARDS PIEHREPoNT DEAD.
Attorney General Under Grant, and a
World Famed Jurist.

New York, March 6.-Edwards Pierre
pont died at $50 o'clock this morning at
his home. 103 Fifth avenue, after a brief
illness, of nervous prostration.
Edwards Pierrepont was a great grandson of
James Pierpont, the famous Revolutionary poet.
He was born in New Haven, Conn, March A.
lSl7. was graduated at Yale in 1887, and at the
law school in 1870, and began practice at Col
umbus, o. In 1S45 he removed TO Yew York
where he became eminent at the bar. In 1857
he was elected judge of the superior court of
the city of New York in place of Chief Justice
Thomas J. Oakley. speech that he made a
year and half before the fall of Fort Sumter,
in witch he predicted the civil war, attracted
much attention. In October, 1860, he re-
signed his seat on the bench and resumed
the practice OF law, and in 1852 he was appointed
by President Lincoln, in conjunction with
General John A. Dix, to try the prisoners
OF state that were confined in the
various prisons and forts OF the United
states. In 1864 he was active in organiz-
ing the war Democrats in fayorof the re-elec-
ton OF Abraham Lincoln In April, 1867,
he was elected a member of the convention for
forming new constitution for the state Of New
York. aud one OF its executive committee. He
was employed to conduct the prosecution on the
part OF the government OF John II. Surratt,
indicted for aiding in the murder OF President
Lincoln. Judge Pierrepont was engaged in
many celebrated cases, and was much employed
by railroad and other corporations. At the be-
ginning OF the civil war he was an active mem
her of the Union defense committee and one of
the three that were appointed to proceed to
Washington City TO confer With the government
when all communication was cut OF by
way of Baltimore after thd attack upon the
Massachusetts, troops. In the presidential con-
tests OF 1865 and 1872 he was an ardent supporter
OF General Grant, by whom he was appointed in
TTri4A Mt fRr tha S1ftfh how,
district of New York, which office he re-
signed in July, 1870. In the autumn OF
that year he was one OF the most active men,
bers OF the committee OF seventy in opposition
TO the Tweed ring. In May, 1875 Judge Pier
pont was appointed United States minister to
Russia but declined. and III April, 1s7j, he be-
came attorney general OF the United States,
naming in the cabinet OF President Grant until
May. 1870, when he sent as United States
minister to Great Britain. During his term OF
Office as attorney general he was called upon by
the secretary OF state TO give an opinion upon a
question OF international law, in which
were discussed the questions OF natural aud
acquired nationality. This opinion gave him
wide reputation. During General Grants visit
TO London Judge Pierrepont urged upon the
queens ministers the propriety OF according the
same precedence TO him as had been given to
the ex-ruler OF France. This was done,
and other governments followed the ex-
ample OF Great Britain. Judge Pierrepont
devoted large attention 20 the financial system
of England. On his return in ISIS he engaged
actively in his profession, hut afterward retired
aud took especial interest in the fuan-
csl policy OF the country, writ
ing several pamphlets upon the
subject. In one, written in 1889, he advocated
an international treaty. and claimed that by
convention the commercial value of the silver
dollar might be restored. He published various
orations Columbis and Yale colleges made
him Ii D., and oxford D. c. L.