Thomas Jefferson Boynton
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jefferson Boynton (August 31, 1838 – May 2, 1871) was an American lawyer, journalist, and judge.
Boynton was born in 1838 in Amherst, Ohio
, the son of John Hancock Boynton and Huldah Heath. He was called "Jefferson" by his family and friends. Jefferson grew up in Lorain County, Ohio
. His father was active in both local and state politics, serving as the Sheriff of Lorain County and later the Mayor of Elyria, Ohio
. Jefferson read law in 1858 and was in private practice
in Saint Joseph, Missouri
, from 1858 to 1861. Boynton was a correspondent
for the Missouri Democrat from 1858 to 1861. He also was a newspaper editor
in Jefferson City, Missouri
.
Boynton served as the District Attorney for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
at Key West from 1861 to 1863. President
Abraham Lincoln
appointed him (by recess appointment
) on October 19, 1863, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to the seat vacated by William Marvin
. At age 25, he is the youngest federal judge
in U.S. history. Nominated on January 5, 1864, he was confirmed
by the Senate
on January 20, 1864, and received commission
on January 20, 1864. Scans of Boynton's appointment are in the holdings of PapersOfAbrahamLincoln, having been obtained from a descendant of Jefferson's sister, Harriet Boynton Dake.
Judge Boynton was involved in the case of Samuel Mudd
. Mudd was imprisoned in Fort Jefferson in Boynton's district. In 1868, Mudd submitted an appeal of habeas corpus
in hopes of being freed. Judge Boynton denied the petition. The text of Boynton's ruling can be found reproduced in various online newspaper archives, though the actual ruling document itself appears not to have survived. Mudd's lawyers submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court, but this appeal was never heard as Mudd received a presidential pardon in 1869, making the case moot. This particular ruling has surfaced in the 1990s and early 2000s because Dr. Mudd's descendants made repeated unsuccessful efforts to clear him of association with Lincoln's assassination plot, and also because it relates to ex parte Milligan
and the detention of various people at Guantanomo Bay during the Bush Administration.http://www.eclectica.org/v5n2/longley.html
Many of Boynton's activities as district attorney and judge have recently been made available on Footnote.com as papers of the Admiralty Court for his district have been published online. There are also letters in the Library of Congress's Lincoln collection relating to his appointment.
Boynton resigned from the court on January 1, 1870 as his health declined. Boynton died in New York City
in 1871, shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. He is buried in Ridgeview Cemetery, Elyria, Ohio
.
Boynton was born in 1838 in Amherst, Ohio
Amherst, Ohio
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,797 people, 4,459 households, and 3,388 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,646.1 people per square mile . There were 4,603 housing units at an average density of 642.3 per square mile...
, the son of John Hancock Boynton and Huldah Heath. He was called "Jefferson" by his family and friends. Jefferson grew up in Lorain County, Ohio
Lorain County, Ohio
Lorain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, and is considered to be a part of what is locally referred to as Greater Cleveland. As of the 2010 census, its population was 301,356. an increase from 284,664 in 2000...
. His father was active in both local and state politics, serving as the Sheriff of Lorain County and later the Mayor of Elyria, Ohio
Elyria, Ohio
-Community:Elyria has an extensive, although financially burdened, community food pantry and "Hot Meals" program administered through the Second Harvest Food Bank and several churches Elyria is served by Elyria Memorial Hospital.-Recreation and parks:...
. Jefferson read law in 1858 and was in private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph is the second largest city in northwest Missouri, only second to Kansas City in size, serving as the county seat for Buchanan County. As of the 2010 census, Saint Joseph had a total population of 76,780, making it the eighth largest city in the state. The St...
, from 1858 to 1861. Boynton was a correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
for the Missouri Democrat from 1858 to 1861. He also was a newspaper editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
.
Boynton served as the District Attorney for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
at Key West from 1861 to 1863. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed him (by recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
) on October 19, 1863, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to the seat vacated by William Marvin
William Marvin
William Marvin was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He was the seventh Governor of FloridaMarvin was born in Fairfield, New York. He read law in 1834 and entered private practice in Phelps, New York in 1834...
. At age 25, he is the youngest federal judge
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 U.S. history. Nominated on January 5, 1864, he was confirmed
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
by the 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...
on January 20, 1864, and received commission
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
on January 20, 1864. Scans of Boynton's appointment are in the holdings of PapersOfAbrahamLincoln, having been obtained from a descendant of Jefferson's sister, Harriet Boynton Dake.
Judge Boynton was involved in the case of Samuel Mudd
Samuel Mudd
Samuel Alexander Mudd I, M.D. was an American physician who was convicted and imprisoned for aiding and conspiring with John Wilkes Booth in the 1865 assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. He was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson and released from prison in 1869...
. Mudd was imprisoned in Fort Jefferson in Boynton's district. In 1868, Mudd submitted an appeal of habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
in hopes of being freed. Judge Boynton denied the petition. The text of Boynton's ruling can be found reproduced in various online newspaper archives, though the actual ruling document itself appears not to have survived. Mudd's lawyers submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court, but this appeal was never heard as Mudd received a presidential pardon in 1869, making the case moot. This particular ruling has surfaced in the 1990s and early 2000s because Dr. Mudd's descendants made repeated unsuccessful efforts to clear him of association with Lincoln's assassination plot, and also because it relates to ex parte Milligan
Ex parte Milligan
Ex parte Milligan, , was a United States Supreme Court case that ruled that the application of military tribunals to citizens when civilian courts are still operating is unconstitutional. It was also controversial because it was one of the first cases after the end of the American Civil...
and the detention of various people at Guantanomo Bay during the Bush Administration.http://www.eclectica.org/v5n2/longley.html
Many of Boynton's activities as district attorney and judge have recently been made available on Footnote.com as papers of the Admiralty Court for his district have been published online. There are also letters in the Library of Congress's Lincoln collection relating to his appointment.
Boynton resigned from the court on January 1, 1870 as his health declined. Boynton died in 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...
in 1871, shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. He is buried in Ridgeview Cemetery, Elyria, Ohio
Elyria, Ohio
-Community:Elyria has an extensive, although financially burdened, community food pantry and "Hot Meals" program administered through the Second Harvest Food Bank and several churches Elyria is served by Elyria Memorial Hospital.-Recreation and parks:...
.