Francis Wharton
Encyclopedia
Francis Wharton was an American
legal writer and educationalist.
He graduated at Yale
in 1839, was admitted to the bar in 1843, became prominent in Pennsylvania politics as a Democrat
, served as assistant attorney-general in 1845. In Philadelphia, he edited the North American and United States Gazette. He was professor of English history and literature at Kenyon College
, Gambier, Ohio
, in 1856-1863.
He took orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1862 and in 1863-1869 was rector of St. Paul's Church, Brookline, Massachusetts
. In 1871-1881 he taught ecclesiastical polity and canon law in the Protestant Episcopal Theological School at Cambridge, Massachusetts
, and at this time he lectured on the conflict of laws at Boston University
.
For two years he traveled in Europe, and after two years in Philadelphia he went to Washington, DC, where he was lecturer on criminal law (1885–1886) and then professor of criminal law
(1886–1888) at Columbian (now George Washington) University
; in 1885-1888 he was solicitor (or examiner of claims) of the Department of State, and from 1888 until his death was employed on an edition (authorized by Congress) of the Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States (6 vols, 1889, ed. by John Bassett Moore
), which superseded Jared Sparks
's compilation.
Wharton was a "broad church
man" and was deeply interested in the hymnology
of his church. Wharton was also interested in Christian apologetics
, and he wrote an essay on the relationship between apologetics and jurisprudence that was published in The Princeton Review in 1878. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of Edinburgh
in 1883, and was the foremost American authority on international law
.
See the Memoir (Philadelphia, 1891) by his daughter, Mrs Viele, and several friends; and J. B. Moore's "Brief Sketch of the Life of Francis Wharton," prefaced to the first volume of the Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
legal writer and educationalist.
He graduated at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
in 1839, was admitted to the bar in 1843, became prominent in Pennsylvania politics as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, served as assistant attorney-general in 1845. In Philadelphia, he edited the North American and United States Gazette. He was professor of English history and literature at Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
, Gambier, Ohio
Gambier, Ohio
Gambier is a village in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,871 at the 2000 census.Gambier is the home of Kenyon College and was named after one of Kenyon College's early benefactors, Lord Gambier....
, in 1856-1863.
He took orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1862 and in 1863-1869 was rector of St. Paul's Church, Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
. In 1871-1881 he taught ecclesiastical polity and canon law in the Protestant Episcopal Theological School at Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, and at this time he lectured on the conflict of laws at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
.
For two years he traveled in Europe, and after two years in Philadelphia he went to Washington, DC, where he was lecturer on criminal law (1885–1886) and then professor of criminal law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
(1886–1888) at Columbian (now George Washington) University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
; in 1885-1888 he was solicitor (or examiner of claims) of the Department of State, and from 1888 until his death was employed on an edition (authorized by Congress) of the Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States (6 vols, 1889, ed. by John Bassett Moore
John Bassett Moore
John Bassett Moore was an American authority on international law who was a member of the Hague Tribunal and the first US judge to serve on the Permanent Court of International Justice ....
), which superseded Jared Sparks
Jared Sparks
Jared Sparks was an American historian, educator, and Unitarian minister. He served as President of Harvard University from 1849 to 1853.-Biography:...
's compilation.
Wharton was a "broad church
Broad church
Broad church is a term referring to latitudinarian churchmanship in the Church of England, in particular, and Anglicanism, in general. From this, the term is often used to refer to secular political organisations, meaning that they encompass a broad range of opinion.-Usage:After the terms high...
man" and was deeply interested in the hymnology
Hymnology
Hymnology is the scholarly study of religious song, or the hymn, in its many aspects, with particular focus on choral and congregational song. It may be more or less clearly distinguished from hymnody, the creation and practice of such song...
of his church. Wharton was also interested in Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views...
, and he wrote an essay on the relationship between apologetics and jurisprudence that was published in The Princeton Review in 1878. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1883, and was the foremost American authority on international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
.
Publications
- A Treatise on the Criminal Law of the United States (1846; many times reprinted)
- State Trials of the United States during the Administrations of Washington and Adams (1849)
- A Treatise on the Law of Homicide in the United States (1855)
- with Moreton Stifle, A Treatise on Medical Jurisprudence (1855)
- A Treatise on Theism and Modern Skeptical Theories (1859), in which he applied rules of legal evidence to modern sceptical theories
- A Treatise on the Conflict of Laws (1872; 3rd ed. 1905)
- A Treatise on the Law of Negligence (1874)
- A Commentary on the Law of Agency and Agents (1876)
- A Commentary on the Law of Evidence in Civil Issues (1877; 3rd ed. 1888)
- a companion work on Criminal Evidence
- "Recent Changes in Jurisprudence and Christian Apologetics," The Princeton Review, Vol. 2, no. 1 (July–December 1878) pp. 149–168. (This is accessible via http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/m/moajrnl).
- Commentary on the Law of Contracts (1882)
- Commentaries on Law (1884)
- Digest of the International Law of the United States (3 vols 1886).
See the Memoir (Philadelphia, 1891) by his daughter, Mrs Viele, and several friends; and J. B. Moore's "Brief Sketch of the Life of Francis Wharton," prefaced to the first volume of the Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence.
External links
- Biography at virtualology.com under his ancestor Thomas Wharton Jr.Thomas Wharton Jr.Thomas Wharton Jr. was a Pennsylvania merchant and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first President of Pennsylvania following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain....