Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-05
PAPER ON CAREER
JOHN GARDINER AT
HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A most interesting talk upon the life
Of John Gardiner, Barrister, was given
Tuesday evening at the regular meet
ing Of the Kennebec Historical Society
by Bertram r. Packard, deputy COM
missioner c. education. The talk
brought out many hitherto unknown
points in the life Of this man and was
very instructive. The talk was sup
plemented by an informal talk by Mr..
Maxcy Of Gardiner. who explained to
the audience how. If Jim Gardiner had
not quarrelled with his father, DR.. Syl-
vester Gardiner, there would have been
no settlement at Augusta.
The outline Of the meetings for the
winter was presented by the president.
It will continue the policy of having
addresses by State of Maine students
who will treat of subjects not hereto
fore written of. The next meeting will
be held the first Tuesday in January
and the subject will be announced
later.
The speech by Mr.. Packard Is given
in part as follows:
although the family of Gardiner is
one of the most prominent in our New
England history, numbering among it's
members many who have been cele-
Va dtcu III SCS 40
strangely silent concerning John Gar
diner. One of the most prominent men
in Boston and Maine during the years
Immediately subsequent to the Revolu-
ton, and probably the most talked of
man in the newspapers of that day,
only the most fragmentary glimpses of
his life and career can be CLEANED from
our numerous historical and biograph-
ical records.
He was the oldest son Of DR.. Sill
vester Gardiner and was born in Bos-
ton Dec. 4. 1871.
John received his early education
in Boston. and in 1745. at the age of IA.
he was placed in the office of Benjamin
Pratt, afterwards chief justice of New
York, to study law. He remained
there three years and in 174S was sent
to London to pursue his legal studies.
In 1861. at the age of 80. he was ad
mitted a barrister by the Honorable
Benches of the Inner Temple and the
Courts of Westminster Hall. He prac-
ticed before Lord Mansfield. and soon
won his distinguished favor He ac-
quired a brilliant reputation and it ap-
peared at one time that he was des-
tined for very high legal honors.
among the more important cases
with which he was connected during
his career We're that of John Wilkes
in which he was junior counsel for
the defense and that of Beardmore
and Meredith for whom he was coun-
sci. He was rendered the office of
chief justice of the Province of New
York in 1866. which he promptly
declined. Two years later, however,
as attorney genera, of st. Kits, one
of the West India islands. After re-
naming in Jamaica for time, he
went to Martinique, where he sue
cessively held office under the Brit
ish and French governments: In
the early summer of 1888, at the in
stance and through the efforts of
James Sullivan, he returned to Bos-
ton.
ut is not strange that there should
have been violent and often times
bitter controversies between John
Gardiner and his father. DR.. Gardi-
ner was an avoWed loyalist. spending
the years of the Revolution in Eng
land because of his political beliefs.
John, on the contrary. was a Wing in
political belief. and at the same time
q Unitarian as to religious belief.
ut was in consequence of these
disagreements that DIR. Gardiner de-
vised the bulk of his property to his
second son, William. bequeat thing
TO John Gardiner. Esq. give only
the sum of one guinea He relented.
however. and in a codicil made the
same year. 1886. gave him 1000
pounds, and devised to him his house
and lot on Marlborough street and
one-half his Pownalborough farm.
I'm 1856, his wife having died, John
Gardiner removed to Pownalborough
with his three children. In 1886 he
was elected as a representative to
the Massachusetts General Court
from Pownalborough. During his
five years in the Legislature he
achieved his greatest eminence be-
cause of his decided stand concerning
many important questions of the
day.
in October. 1893. he started for
Boston from Pownalborough on the
packer Londoner, which carried
heavy deck load of lumber. A Sc
we're storm came up and the vessel
went down off Cape Ann October
18th, 1898, and all on board We're lost.
"Mr. Gardiner was one of six law
yers in Maine raised to degree of
barrister, the others being William
Gushing, David Sewall, Theophilus
Bradbury. David Wyer and William