Charles Fraser MacLean
Encyclopedia
Charles Fraser MacLean was an American jurist.
Born in New Hartford, New York
, he began attending Yale University
as a junior in 1862. He graduated in 1864 and was a member of Skull and Bones
. In 1866, he was the first person to be awarded a PhD
in philosophy
from an American institution. His dissertation was A Critique of John Stuart Mill's
Examination of Hamilton's
Philosophy. In 1869 he earned his JUD
at the University of Berlin
. His dissertation was De Jure Emigrandi.
During the Franco-Prussian War
, MacLean was a war correspondent for the New York World
. He accompanied U.S. military observer General Philip Sheridan
and acted as his interpreter. He was one of the first non-combatants to enter Paris
following the surrender of the French and witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. He recounted the Battle of Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III in his "The Surrender of an Emperor", published in The Second Book of the Authors Club: Liber Scriptorum (1921). He also interviewed Otto von Bismarck
, Patrice de Mac-Mahon, Duke of Magenta, Adolphe Thiers
, and Léon Gambetta
.
After a brief stint in St. Petersburg for The Times
, he returned to the US to practice law. He entered the law office of Samuel J. Tilden
, who was related to his mother, and would practice law in New York City
most of the rest of his life. He lectured on law at Columbia University
(1873-4) and New York University
(1885–97). He served on the Board of Police Commissioners
variously as counsel, a member, and president and served in various other city office and boards. He was elected to be a judge on the New York Supreme Court
and served for fourteen years (1895–1909).
In 1887, he married Marie Mott (1854?-1946), daughter of industrialist Jordan L. Mott
.
Born in New Hartford, New York
New Hartford, New York
New Hartford, New York may refer to:* New Hartford , New York, in Oneida County* New Hartford , New York, within the town of New Hartford...
, he began attending Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
as a junior in 1862. He graduated in 1864 and was a member of Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
. In 1866, he was the first person to be awarded a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from an American institution. His dissertation was A Critique of John Stuart Mill's
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, economist and civil servant. An influential contributor to social theory, political theory, and political economy, his conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control. He was a proponent of...
Examination of Hamilton's
Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet
Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet was a Scottish metaphysician.-Early life:He was born in Glasgow. He was from an academic family, including Robert Hamilton, the economist...
Philosophy. In 1869 he earned his JUD
JUD
A Doctor of Canon and Civil Law, from the Latin doctor utriusque juris, or juris utriusque doctor, or doctor juris utriusque is a scholar who has acquired a doctorate in both civil law and church law...
at the University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
. His dissertation was De Jure Emigrandi.
During the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
, MacLean was a war correspondent for the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
. He accompanied U.S. military observer General Philip Sheridan
Philip Sheridan
Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S...
and acted as his interpreter. He was one of the first non-combatants to enter Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
following the surrender of the French and witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. He recounted the Battle of Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III in his "The Surrender of an Emperor", published in The Second Book of the Authors Club: Liber Scriptorum (1921). He also interviewed Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
, Patrice de Mac-Mahon, Duke of Magenta, Adolphe Thiers
Adolphe Thiers
Marie Joseph Louis Adolphe Thiers was a French politician and historian. was a prime minister under King Louis-Philippe of France. Following the overthrow of the Second Empire he again came to prominence as the French leader who suppressed the revolutionary Paris Commune of 1871...
, and Léon Gambetta
Léon Gambetta
Léon Gambetta was a French statesman prominent after the Franco-Prussian War.-Youth and education:He is said to have inherited his vigour and eloquence from his father, a Genovese grocer who had married a Frenchwoman named Massabie. At the age of fifteen, Gambetta lost the sight of his right eye...
.
After a brief stint in St. Petersburg for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, he returned to the US to practice law. He entered the law office of Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...
, who was related to his mother, and would practice law in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
most of the rest of his life. He lectured on law at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(1873-4) and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(1885–97). He served on the Board of Police Commissioners
New York City Police Commissioner
The New York City Police Commissioner is the head of the New York City Police Department, appointed by the Mayor of New York City. Governor Theodore Roosevelt, in one of his final acts before becoming Vice President of the United States in March 1901, signed legislation replacing the Police Board...
variously as counsel, a member, and president and served in various other city office and boards. He was elected to be a judge on the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
and served for fourteen years (1895–1909).
In 1887, he married Marie Mott (1854?-1946), daughter of industrialist Jordan L. Mott
Jordan L. Mott
Jordan Lawrence Mott was an American inventor and industrialist. He established the J. L. Mott Iron Works in New York.His father was Jacob Mott, an alderman of New York in 1804-1810 and at one time acting mayor of the city, after whom Mott Street was named. Jacob's wife was related to James...
.