Hugh Maxwell
Encyclopedia
Hugh Maxwell was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
During the War of 1812
, he was an Assistant Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army.
He was New York County District Attorney
from 1817 to 1818, and from 1821 to 1829. In 1826, he prosecuted Jacob Barker
, Henry Eckford
and others for "conspiracy to defraud."
In 1849, he was appointed by President Zachary Taylor
Collector of the Port of New York
, and remained in office until 1853 when his term expired. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law, but retired after a few years.
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 graduated from Columbia College in 1808. Then he studied law and was admitted to the bar.During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he was an Assistant Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army.
He was 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....
from 1817 to 1818, and from 1821 to 1829. In 1826, he prosecuted Jacob Barker
Jacob Barker
Jacob Barker was an American financier and lawyer.He was born in Swan Island, Maine, in 1779, of Quaker parentage. He went to New York at the age of 16, engaged in trade, and soon amassed a considerable fortune. Beginning in 1811, Fitz-Greene Halleck was employed by him for twenty years...
, Henry Eckford
Henry Eckford (shipbuilder)
Henry Eckford was a Scottish-born shipbuilder, naval architect, industrial engineer, and entrepreneur who worked for the United States Navy and the navy of the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.-Early life:...
and others for "conspiracy to defraud."
In 1849, he was appointed by President Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
Collector of the Port of New York
Collector of the Port of New York
The Collector of Customs at the Port of New York, most often referred to as Collector of the Port of New York, sometimes also as Collector of Customs for the Port of New York or Collector of Customs for the District of New York, was a federal officer who was in charge of the collection of import...
, and remained in office until 1853 when his term expired. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law, but retired after a few years.
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 369 and 377; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- famousamericans.net/hughmaxwell/
- THE LAW INSTITUTE.; PRESENTATION OF BEQUESTS FROM THE LATE HUGH MAXWELL in NYT on July 15, 1873 [giving wrong tenure "1819-1829", which later was copied widely]