Benjamin Franklin Butler (lawyer) took which position in May 1839?
Benjamin Franklin Butler ( lawyer ) Benjamin Franklin Butler ( December 17 , 1795 – November 8 , 1858 ) was a prominent lawyer from the state of New York . A professional and political ally of Martin Van Buren , among the many elective and appointive positions he held were Attorney General of the United States and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York . He was also a founder of New York University and one of the founders of the Childrens Village school in New York City . Early life . He was the son of Medad Butler and Hannah Butler ( née Tylee ) of Kinderhook Landing , in Columbia County , New York . He studied at Hudson Academy in Hudson , New York , and read law with Martin Van Buren , whose son John Van Buren later read law with Butler . Butler was admitted to the bar in 1817 , and became Martin Van Burens partner . In his 1903 book The Art of Cross-Examination , author Francis L . Wellman indicated that Butler was regarded during his life as a highly effective trial lawyer , and one of the most successful cross-examiners of his day . Political career . Butler was one of the earliest members of the Albany Regency . When fellow Regency member and Van Buren ally Roger Skinner was appointed Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in 1819 , he sold his law office to Butler , who took over Skinners clients and pending cases . Butler began his political career as district attorney of Albany County , serving from 1821 to 1825 . He was appointed one of the three commissioners to revise the State statutes in 1825 . Butler was a member from Albany County of the New York State Assembly in 1828 . In 1833 , he served as commissioner for New York to adjust the New Jersey boundary line . On November 15 , 1833 , President Andrew Jackson appointed Butler Attorney General , an office he held until 1838 . From that year until 1841 , and from 1845 to 1848 , he was United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York . He was a prominent participant in the 1844 Democratic National Convention . As one of the leaders of the New York delegation , he supported the candidacy of Martin Van Buren and opposed the 2/3 rule for nominating , but failed in both cases . In the end , he was the one to announce that the New York delegation would switch to eventual winner James K . Polk . Van Buren recommended Butler to Polk for a cabinet position but told Polk that he was loath to leave his lucrative law practice and so would not agree unless offered the office of Secretary of State . Polk ended up offering him Secretary of War , but Butler declined , stating that he would only accept State or Treasury . Legacy . Butler was a regent of the University of the State of New York from 1829 to 1832 . He was instrumental in founding New York University in 1831 and served in various capacities with the university from its inception . He received the honorary degree of LL.D . from Rutgers University in 1834 . He was appointed principal professor of New York University in 1837 . Personal life . In 1818 , he married Harriet Allen ; their children included attorney William Allen Butler , and Lydia Allen Butler , who married Alfred Booth and was the mother of Sir Alfred Allen Booth , 1st Baronet , a director of Alfred Booth and Company and chairman of Cunard . While visiting Europe in 1858 , he died in Paris , France . He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx . Fort Butler , one of the main forts built for the forced removal of the Cherokee Indians on the Trail of Tears , was named for him . Further reading . - Finding Aid to Benjamin Butler Papers , 1796-1910 at the New York State Library , accessed May 18 , 2016 .