Robert H. McCarter
Encyclopedia
Robert Harris McCarter was an American
lawyer who served as the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1903 until 1908, succeeding his brother Thomas N. McCarter
.
McCarter was born in Newton, New Jersey
in 1859 to Thomas Nesbitt and Mary Louisa (Haggerty) McCarter. He attended the Pingry School
and Newark Academy
before entering Princeton University
, where he graduated in 1879. He studied at Columbia Law School
, receiving his diploma in 1882, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar that same year.
McCarter and his brother joined the law firm of their father, which had been established in Newton in 1845 and moved to Newark
twenty years later. The firm was known as McCarter & Keen until the two younger McCarters, along with their brother-in-law Edwin B. Williamson, became partners, after which time it was known as McCarter, Williamson & McCarter.
McCarter's brother Thomas served Attorney General of New Jersey from 1902 to 1903, resigining to become president of the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey
. Governor Franklin Murphy
nominated McCarter to take his brother's spot, and he was confirmed as Attorney General on May 5, 1903. He served for a term of five years.
After his tenure as Attorney General he returned to his Newark law practice, which became known as McCarter & English
in 1906 after the death of Edwin B. Williamson and the promotion of Conover English to partner. Though he mostly took on corporate clients, he served as the defense attorney for one of New Jersey's most sensational criminal cases, the Hall-Mills Murder
trial of 1926. Edward Wheeler Hall, a New Brunswick Episcopal priest, and Eleanor Reinhardt Mills, had been murdered, and McCarter defended the priest's wife and her brothers at trial. He managed to win acquittals for all three defendants.
McCarter served as president of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He was counsel to Lester H. Clee
in his 1937 campaign for Governor of New Jersey
against A. Harry Moore
. In 1938 he served as counsel for a committee investigating election irregularities in Hudson County
at a time when political boss Frank Hague
held a tight grip on the county's electoral process.
McCarter died of a heart attack in 1941 at his home in Rumson
at the age of 82.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer who served as the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1903 until 1908, succeeding his brother Thomas N. McCarter
Thomas N. McCarter
Thomas Nesbitt McCarter was an American lawyer who served as the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1902 until 1903, resigning to organize the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey....
.
McCarter was born in Newton, New Jersey
Newton, New Jersey
Newton is a town in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 8,244. It is the county seat of Sussex County....
in 1859 to Thomas Nesbitt and Mary Louisa (Haggerty) McCarter. He attended the Pingry School
Pingry School
The Pingry School is a coeducational, independent, college preparatory country day school in New Jersey, with a Lower School campus in the Short Hills neighborhood of Millburn, and a Middle and Upper School campus in Martinsville. The school was founded in 1861 by Dr. John F. Pingry.Pingry's...
and Newark Academy
Newark Academy
Newark Academy is a coeducational private day school located in Livingston, New Jersey. With both lower and upper schools, this institution comprises grades six through twelve...
before entering Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he graduated in 1879. He studied at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, receiving his diploma in 1882, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar that same year.
McCarter and his brother joined the law firm of their father, which had been established in Newton in 1845 and moved to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
twenty years later. The firm was known as McCarter & Keen until the two younger McCarters, along with their brother-in-law Edwin B. Williamson, became partners, after which time it was known as McCarter, Williamson & McCarter.
McCarter's brother Thomas served Attorney General of New Jersey from 1902 to 1903, resigining to become president of the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey
Public Service Railway
The Public Service Railway, owned by the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey, operated most of the streetcar lines in New Jersey by the early 20th century. Public Service lines stretched from northeast New Jersey to Trenton, and then south to Camden and its suburbs...
. Governor Franklin Murphy
Franklin Murphy (governor)
Franklin Murphy was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 31st Governor of New Jersey, from 1902-1905. He was the founder of the Murphy Varnish Company in Newark, New Jersey.-Civil War Service:...
nominated McCarter to take his brother's spot, and he was confirmed as Attorney General on May 5, 1903. He served for a term of five years.
After his tenure as Attorney General he returned to his Newark law practice, which became known as McCarter & English
McCarter & English
Founded over 160 years ago, McCarter & English LLP is among the oldest and largest law firms in the United States and is the oldest and largest law firm based in the State of New Jersey.-Overview:...
in 1906 after the death of Edwin B. Williamson and the promotion of Conover English to partner. Though he mostly took on corporate clients, he served as the defense attorney for one of New Jersey's most sensational criminal cases, the Hall-Mills Murder
Hall-Mills Murder
The Hall-Mills murder case involved an Episcopal priest and a member of his choir with whom he having an affair, who were killed on September 14, 1922, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The suspected murderers, the priest's wife and her brothers, were acquitted in a 1926 trial...
trial of 1926. Edward Wheeler Hall, a New Brunswick Episcopal priest, and Eleanor Reinhardt Mills, had been murdered, and McCarter defended the priest's wife and her brothers at trial. He managed to win acquittals for all three defendants.
McCarter served as president of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He was counsel to Lester H. Clee
Lester H. Clee
Lester Harrison Clee was an American clergyman and politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey in 1937.-Biography:...
in his 1937 campaign for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
against A. Harry Moore
A. Harry Moore
Arthur Harry Moore was a Democrat who was the 39th Governors of New Jersey, serving three terms between 1926 and 1941. He was the longest-serving New Jersey Governor in the 20th century and the only New Jersey Governor elected to serve three separate non-consecutive terms...
. In 1938 he served as counsel for a committee investigating election irregularities in Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
at a time when political boss Frank Hague
Frank Hague
Frank Hague was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from 1917 to 1947, Democratic National Committeeman from New Jersey from 1922 until 1949, and Vice-Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1924 until 1949.Hague has a widely-known...
held a tight grip on the county's electoral process.
McCarter died of a heart attack in 1941 at his home in Rumson
Rumson, New Jersey
Rumson is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,122.Rumson was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1907, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on the results of a...
at the age of 82.