Daniel G. Rollins
Encyclopedia
Daniel Gustavus Rollins was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
in 1860. Then he studied law at Harvard Law School
, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Portland, Maine
.
From 1866 to 1869, he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and removed to New York City
. Afterwards he resumed his private practice.
In 1873, his former fellow Asst. U.S. Attorney Benjamin K. Phelps
took office as New York County District Attorney
and appointed Rollins an Assistant D.A.
On December 31, 1879, Rollins was the Republican candidate for Recorder of New York City
, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John K. Hackett
, but the Board of Supervisors elected Tammany
man Frederick Smyth. In November 1880, Rollins ran on the Republican and the German Independent tickets for Recorder of New York, but was again defeated by the incumbent Recorder Smyth.
On January 10, 1881, Rollins was appointed by Gov. Alonzo B. Cornell
as D.A. of New York to fill the vacancy caused by the death of D.A. Phelps, and remained in office until the end of 1881. In November 1881, Rollins declined to run to succeed himself as D.A., and was instead elected Surrogate of New York County. He was re-elected in 1884, and remained in office until the end of 1887.
In 1884, Dartmouth College conferred an honorary degree of LL.D. on him. In November 1887, he ran for the New York Supreme Court
(1st D.) but was defeated. Afterwards he resumed his private practice. One of his last cases was the defense of the owners of the American Tobacco Company
who were charged with "conspiracy and violation of the Penal Code", meaning that they had formed a monopoly.
Rollins died from diabetes at the place of his birth which he used then as his summer home, on Beacon Street in Somersworth, N.H. (previously named Great Falls), and was buried in that city.
His brother Edward Ashton Rollins was Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
in 1861 and 1862. Congressman Edward H. Rollins
was a distant cousin, all descended from Judge Ichabod Rollins (1722–1800).
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of Daniel G. Rollins (1796–1875), Judge of Probate of Strafford Co. 1857-66, and Susan Binney (Jackson) Rollins (b. 1805). He graduated from Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1860. Then he studied law at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.
From 1866 to 1869, he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and removed to 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...
. Afterwards he resumed his private practice.
In 1873, his former fellow Asst. U.S. Attorney Benjamin K. Phelps
Benjamin K. Phelps
Benjamin Kinsman Phelps was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
took office as New York County District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
and appointed Rollins an Assistant D.A.
On December 31, 1879, Rollins was the Republican candidate for Recorder of New York City
Recorder of New York City
The Recorder of New York City was a municipal officer of New York City from 1683 until the early 20th century. He was at times a judge of the Court of General Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, and the New York Court of Common Pleas; Vice-President of the Board of Supervisors of New York...
, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John K. Hackett
John K. Hackett
John Keteltas Hackett was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
, but the Board of Supervisors elected Tammany
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
man Frederick Smyth. In November 1880, Rollins ran on the Republican and the German Independent tickets for Recorder of New York, but was again defeated by the incumbent Recorder Smyth.
On January 10, 1881, Rollins was appointed by Gov. Alonzo B. Cornell
Alonzo B. Cornell
Alonzo Barton Cornell was a New York politician and businessman who served as 27th Governor of New York from 1880 to 1882.-Early years:...
as D.A. of New York to fill the vacancy caused by the death of D.A. Phelps, and remained in office until the end of 1881. In November 1881, Rollins declined to run to succeed himself as D.A., and was instead elected Surrogate of New York County. He was re-elected in 1884, and remained in office until the end of 1887.
In 1884, Dartmouth College conferred an honorary degree of LL.D. on him. In November 1887, he ran for 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...
(1st D.) but was defeated. Afterwards he resumed his private practice. One of his last cases was the defense of the owners of the American Tobacco Company
American Tobacco Company
The American Tobacco Company was a tobacco company founded in 1890 by J. B. Duke through a merger between a number of U.S. tobacco manufacturers including Allen and Ginter and Goodwin & Company...
who were charged with "conspiracy and violation of the Penal Code", meaning that they had formed a monopoly.
Rollins died from diabetes at the place of his birth which he used then as his summer home, on Beacon Street in Somersworth, N.H. (previously named Great Falls), and was buried in that city.
His brother Edward Ashton Rollins was Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
in 1861 and 1862. Congressman Edward H. Rollins
Edward H. Rollins
Edward Henry Rollins was a United States Representative and Senator from New Hampshire.-Biography:Born in a part of Somersworth, New Hampshire which is now Rollinsford , he attended the common schools and academies in Dover, New Hampshire and South Berwick, Maine...
was a distant cousin, all descended from Judge Ichabod Rollins (1722–1800).
Sources
- Life of Edward H. Rollins: A Political Biography by James Otis Lyford (page 120)
- Sketches of the Alumni of Dartmouth College by George Thomas Chapman (page 453)
- MR. SMYTH THE RECORDER in NYT on January 1, 1880
- THE STATE AND LOCAL NOMINATIONS in NYT on October 31, 1880
- MR. PHELPS'S SUCCESSOR in NYT on January 11, 1881
- THE REPUBLICAN TICKET in NYT on October 27, 1881
- DANIEL G. ROLLINS in NYT on November 3, 1887
- AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY.; Trial of Its Officers for Conspiracy and Violation of the Penal Code to Begin To-day in NYT on June 8, 1897
- DANIEL G. ROLLINS DEAD in NYT on August 31, 1897