Eugenius Aristides Nisbet
Encyclopedia
Eugenius Aristides Nisbet (December 7, 1803 – March 18, 1871) was an American
politician
, jurist
, and lawyer
.
Nisbet was born near Union Point
, Georgia
. He attended the Powellton Academy in Hancock County, Georgia
from 1815 to 1817, the University of South Carolina
in Columbia
from 1817 to 1819, and graduated from the University of Georgia
in Athens
with an Bachelor of Arts
in 1821. Nisbet then attended the Litchfield Law School
in Connecticut
.
After receiving admission in 1824 to the state bar by a special act of the Georgia General Assembly
as he was not yet twenty-one, Nisbet began the practice of law in Madison, Georgia
.
Nisbet was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives
in 1827 and served until 1830 when he was elected to the Georgia Senate
. He served in the state senate until 1837. Nisbet unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives
in 1836; however, he was elected to that body in 1838 and again in 1840.
Nisbet resigned from the U.S. House in 1841, due to "the condition of his private affairs and a growing distaste for political life." Nisbet was later elected as one of the three initial justices of the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1845, and he served as an associate justice on that court until 1853. In 1861, Nisbet was a member of Georgia's secession convention and authored the Ordinance of Secession
. He also ran an unsuccessful campaign to become Governor of Georgia in that same year. Nisbet served a trustee of UGA from 1864 until his death in 1871 in Macon, Georgia
. He was buried in that city's Rose Hill Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, and 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...
.
Nisbet was born near Union Point
Union Point, Georgia
Union Point is a city in Greene County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,669.-Geography:Union Point is located at ....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He attended the Powellton Academy in Hancock County, Georgia
Hancock County, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,076 people, 3,237 households, and 2,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 4,287 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
from 1815 to 1817, the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
from 1817 to 1819, and graduated from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
with an Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1821. Nisbet then attended the Litchfield Law School
Litchfield Law School
The Litchfield Law School of Litchfield, Connecticut, was the first formal school offering training for the legal profession in the United States. It was established in 1784 by Tapping Reeve, who would later became the Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
After receiving admission in 1824 to the state bar by a special act of the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
as he was not yet twenty-one, Nisbet began the practice of law in Madison, Georgia
Madison, Georgia
Madison is a city in Morgan County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,636 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Morgan County....
.
Nisbet was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
in 1827 and served until 1830 when he was elected to the Georgia Senate
Georgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
. He served in the state senate until 1837. Nisbet unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1836; however, he was elected to that body in 1838 and again in 1840.
Nisbet resigned from the U.S. House in 1841, due to "the condition of his private affairs and a growing distaste for political life." Nisbet was later elected as one of the three initial justices of the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1845, and he served as an associate justice on that court until 1853. In 1861, Nisbet was a member of Georgia's secession convention and authored the Ordinance of Secession
Ordinance of Secession
The Ordinance of Secession was the document drafted and ratified in 1860 and 1861 by the states officially seceding from the United States of America...
. He also ran an unsuccessful campaign to become Governor of Georgia in that same year. Nisbet served a trustee of UGA from 1864 until his death in 1871 in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. He was buried in that city's Rose Hill Cemetery
Rose Hill Cemetery (Georgia)
Rose Hill Cemetery is in Macon, Georgia, U.S. The cemetery opened in 1840. It was a hangout and artistic inspiration for the Allman Brothers Band during their early years...
.