Leonard Eugene Wales
Encyclopedia
Leonard Eugene Wales was a United States federal judge
in Delaware
.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware
, Wales graduated from Yale University
in 1845, where he was a member of Skull and Bones
, and then read law to enter the bar in 1848. He was an editor of the Delaware State Journal in Wilmington, Delaware from 1848-50, and a clerk of the United States district court
and United States circuit court
for the District of Delaware from 1849-864. He was also city solicitor for the City of Wilmington from 1853-1854. During the American Civil War
, he was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
, in the First Delaware Volunteers, in 1861.
Wales was made a judge if the Superior Court of Delaware in 1864, and held that position until 1884. He was nominated by President Chester A. Arthur
on March 6, 1884, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
vacated by Edward Green Bradford
. On March 20, 1884, Wales was confirmed by the United States Senate
and received his commission, thereafter serving until his death, in Wilmington.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, Wales graduated from 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...
in 1845, where he 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....
, and then read law to enter the bar in 1848. He was an editor of the Delaware State Journal in Wilmington, Delaware from 1848-50, and a clerk of the United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
and United States circuit court
United States circuit court
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate...
for the District of Delaware from 1849-864. He was also city solicitor for the City of Wilmington from 1853-1854. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, in the First Delaware Volunteers, in 1861.
Wales was made a judge if the Superior Court of Delaware in 1864, and held that position until 1884. He was nominated by President Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
on March 6, 1884, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
United States District Court for the District of Delaware
The United States District Court for the District of Delaware is the Federal district court having jurisdiction over the entire state of Delaware. The Court sits in Wilmington...
vacated by Edward Green Bradford
Edward Green Bradford
Edward Green Bradford was a Delaware politician and United States district court judge.Born in Cecil County, Maryland, Bradford graduated from Delaware College in 1839 and read law to enter the bar in 1842. He was a deputy state attorney general, Dover, Delaware from 1842-1850, and a city...
. On March 20, 1884, Wales was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and received his commission, thereafter serving until his death, in Wilmington.