Edwin M. Randall
Encyclopedia
Edwin M. Randall was a Florida
lawyer
and Republican
politician who served as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
from January 1869 to January 7, 1885. He was born April 5, 1822. He died July 12, 1895.
Randall was born in Canajoharie, New York
in Montgomery County, New York
on April 5, 1822. His father, Phineas, was a lawyer and a judge. He attended the public schools. After reading law
under his father, he was admitted to the bar in 1844. In 1845 the family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin
where he joined his brother, Alexander's
, legal practice. In 1847 he married Julia Mills in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. For the next ten years he worked to build the law practice. He became friends with Harrison Reed, then a Madison of newspaper editor. In 1858, Alexander became governor of Wisconsin.
His brother's political career furthered Randall's. In 1864, a year after Alexander's appointment as assistant Postmaster General, Randall was appointed federal tax commissioner for Louisiana
. After becoming Postmaster General under President Andrew Johnson
, his brother sent Randall to Florida to help Harrison Reed, who was then Florida's postal agent.
Randall and Reed became ready partners. The Republican Party in Florida was factionalized at that time, and their efforts at the 1868 Florida Constitutional Convention derailed the efforts of the "Mule Team," and furthered the efforts of their more conservative faction. As a result, Reed was elected governor and appointed Randall Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
Randall served as Chief Justice during a turbulent time for Florida and the Court. Reconstruction brought division and conflict to Florida and to factions within the Republican Party. He became chief interpreter of the Constitution of 1868. In 1872, he presided over Reed's impeachment. The disputed presidential and gubernatorial elections of 1876 presented unprecedented challenges. Despite Randall's personal and political affiliations, the Court ordered a recount and awarded the governorship to Democrat George F. Drew.
On January 7, 1885 Randall returned to private practice in Jacksonville, after the election of Democrat Edward A. Perry
as governor. He was one of Duval County
's delegates to the state constitutional convention. He served briefly in the early 1890s as Jacksonville city attorney. On July 12, 1895, he died of Bright's disease
.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who served as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
from January 1869 to January 7, 1885. He was born April 5, 1822. He died July 12, 1895.
Randall was born in Canajoharie, New York
Canajoharie, New York
Canajoharie, New York may refer to:* Canajoharie , New York* Canajoharie , New York...
in Montgomery County, New York
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
on April 5, 1822. His father, Phineas, was a lawyer and a judge. He attended the public schools. After reading law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
under his father, he was admitted to the bar in 1844. In 1845 the family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
where he joined his brother, Alexander's
Alexander Randall
Alexander Williams Randall was a lawyer, judge and politician from Wisconsin. He served as the sixth Governor of Wisconsin from 1858 until 1861. He was instrumental in raising and organizing the first Wisconsin volunteer troops for the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:Randall...
, legal practice. In 1847 he married Julia Mills in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. For the next ten years he worked to build the law practice. He became friends with Harrison Reed, then a Madison of newspaper editor. In 1858, Alexander became governor of Wisconsin.
His brother's political career furthered Randall's. In 1864, a year after Alexander's appointment as assistant Postmaster General, Randall was appointed federal tax commissioner for Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. After becoming Postmaster General under President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
, his brother sent Randall to Florida to help Harrison Reed, who was then Florida's postal agent.
Randall and Reed became ready partners. The Republican Party in Florida was factionalized at that time, and their efforts at the 1868 Florida Constitutional Convention derailed the efforts of the "Mule Team," and furthered the efforts of their more conservative faction. As a result, Reed was elected governor and appointed Randall Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
Randall served as Chief Justice during a turbulent time for Florida and the Court. Reconstruction brought division and conflict to Florida and to factions within the Republican Party. He became chief interpreter of the Constitution of 1868. In 1872, he presided over Reed's impeachment. The disputed presidential and gubernatorial elections of 1876 presented unprecedented challenges. Despite Randall's personal and political affiliations, the Court ordered a recount and awarded the governorship to Democrat George F. Drew.
On January 7, 1885 Randall returned to private practice in Jacksonville, after the election of Democrat Edward A. Perry
Edward A. Perry
Edward Aylesworth Perry was a general under Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War and the 14th Governor of Florida.-Early life:He was a descendant of Arthur Perry, one of the earliest settlers of New England...
as governor. He was one of Duval County
Duval County, Florida
Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 864,263. Its county seat is Jacksonville, with which the Duval County government has been consolidated since 1968...
's delegates to the state constitutional convention. He served briefly in the early 1890s as Jacksonville city attorney. On July 12, 1895, he died of Bright's disease
Bright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
.