George M. Stearns
Encyclopedia
George Monroe Stearns was an American attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1886 to 1887.
. He spent his early years in Rowe, Massachusetts
, where his father was a clergyman at the local Unitarian Church
.
. He was admitted to the Hampden County
bar on April 24, 1852 and soon thereafter became Wells' partner.
After Wells moved to Springfield, Massachusetts
, Stearns continued to practice law in Chicopee for several years. He eventually moved to Springfield himself, where he practiced with E. D. Beach and later with Marcus Perrin Knowlton
.
. In 1860, he served on the Committee for the Revision of the Statutes.
In 1867 Stearns was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
. He lost to Republican William Claflin
100,381 votes to 68,527.
In 1871, Stearns served in the Massachusetts Senate
.
In 1872, Stearns was again the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor. However, when gubernatorial nominee Charles Sumner
declined to run, Stearns chose to do the same.
From 1872 to 1874, Stearns was the District Attorney of the Western District of Massachusetts.
He was a delegate to the 1872 Democratic National Convention, supporting Horace Greeley
.
In 1887, he prosecuted Alexander Graham Bell
on the grounds that Bell had used fraud and misrepresentation to obtain a patent. Bell won the case.
Stearns stepped down on August 31, 1887, citing ill health.
. The Hampden County Bar Association held a dinner in his honor before he left, but he was unable to attend due to ill health.
Stearns died on December 31, 1894 at his home in Brookline.
. They had two daughters, Mary Caroline Stearns (1856–1876) and Emily Spaulding Stearns (1858–1870).
Early life
Stearns was born on April 18, 1831 in Stoughton, MassachusettsStoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
. He spent his early years in Rowe, Massachusetts
Rowe, Massachusetts
Rowe is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 351 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where his father was a clergyman at the local Unitarian Church
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
.
Legal career
After school, Stearns studied law in the office of John Wells in Chicopee, MassachusettsChicopee, Massachusetts
Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in...
. He was admitted to the Hampden County
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
bar on April 24, 1852 and soon thereafter became Wells' partner.
After Wells moved to Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, Stearns continued to practice law in Chicopee for several years. He eventually moved to Springfield himself, where he practiced with E. D. Beach and later with Marcus Perrin Knowlton
Marcus Perrin Knowlton
Marcus Perrin Knowlton was an American politician and jurist who served as Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court....
.
Politics
In 1859, Stearns was a member of the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesMassachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
. In 1860, he served on the Committee for the Revision of the Statutes.
In 1867 Stearns was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
. He lost to Republican William Claflin
William Claflin
William Claflin was an industrialist and philanthropist who served as the 27th Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1869–1872 and as a member of the United States Congress from 1877–1881....
100,381 votes to 68,527.
In 1871, Stearns served in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
.
In 1872, Stearns was again the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor. However, when gubernatorial nominee Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner was an American politician and senator from Massachusetts. An academic lawyer and a powerful orator, Sumner was the leader of the antislavery forces in Massachusetts and a leader of the Radical Republicans in the United States Senate during the American Civil War and Reconstruction,...
declined to run, Stearns chose to do the same.
From 1872 to 1874, Stearns was the District Attorney of the Western District of Massachusetts.
He was a delegate to the 1872 Democratic National Convention, supporting Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
.
United States Attorney
In February 1886, Stearns was appointed by President Grover Cleveland to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.In 1887, he prosecuted Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
on the grounds that Bell had used fraud and misrepresentation to obtain a patent. Bell won the case.
Stearns stepped down on August 31, 1887, citing ill health.
Later life and death
In 1894, Stearns moved to Brookline, MassachusettsBrookline, 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:...
. The Hampden County Bar Association held a dinner in his honor before he left, but he was unable to attend due to ill health.
Stearns died on December 31, 1894 at his home in Brookline.
Personal life
Stearns married Emily Goodnow on May 17, 1855 in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. They had two daughters, Mary Caroline Stearns (1856–1876) and Emily Spaulding Stearns (1858–1870).