William Marvin
Encyclopedia
William Marvin was an American lawyer
, politician
, and judge
. He was the seventh Governor of Florida
Marvin was born in Fairfield, New York
. He read law in 1834 and entered private practice
in Phelps, New York
in 1834. President
Andrew Jackson
appointed him United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Territory
at Key West
in 1835, and he served in that position until 1839. Marvin served as a member of the Territorial Council of the Florida Territory
in 1837.
Marvin served as a U.S. territorial judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Territory from 1839 to 1847. Florida became a U.S. state
in 1845. On March 2, 1847, President James K. Polk
nominated him to the newly created United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
, to the seat created by 9 Stat. 131. Confirmed
by the Senate
on March 3, 1847. He received commission
on March 3, 1847.
Marvin resigned from the court on July 1, 1863 (since 1861, during the American Civil War
, Florida had seceded
from the Union
and been part of the Confederacy
. Marvin was in private practice in New York City
in 1863 to 1865.
Marvin was appointed provisional governor of Florida on July 13, 1865, by President Andrew Johnson
, to reestablish the government of the state after the end of the American Civil War
. Marvin left office on December 20, 1865. The Florida Legislature
elected him to the United States Senate
as a Democrat
, but the U.S. Senate refused to recognize the election and denied him a seat. Following the decision by the federal government to reconstruct the former Confederacy, he refused to run for any office.
In 1867, he left Florida and moved to Skaneateles, New York
. He remained in private practice until his death in Skaneateles in 1902.
Marvin was the author of a nationally recognized textbook
entitled Law of Wreck and Salvage, on salvage
law.
Law of the United States
The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States...
, politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
, and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. He was the seventh Governor of Florida
Marvin was born in Fairfield, New York
Fairfield, New York
Fairfield is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,607 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Fairfield, Connecticut.The Town of Fairfield is north of the Village of Herkimer and east of Utica...
. He read law in 1834 and entered 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 Phelps, New York
Phelps, New York
Phelps, New York may refer to either:*Phelps , New York, located in Ontario County*Phelps , New York, located within the Town of Phelps...
in 1834. 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....
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
appointed him United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Territory
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida is the United States Attorney responsible for representing the federal government in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida....
at Key West
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
in 1835, and he served in that position until 1839. Marvin served as a member of the Territorial Council of the Florida Territory
Florida Territory
The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Florida...
in 1837.
Marvin served as a U.S. territorial judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Territory from 1839 to 1847. Florida became a U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
in 1845. On March 2, 1847, President James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
nominated him to the newly created 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....
, to the seat created by 9 Stat. 131. 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 March 3, 1847. He 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 March 3, 1847.
Marvin resigned from the court on July 1, 1863 (since 1861, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Florida had seceded
Secession in the United States
Secession in the United States can refer to secession of a state from the United States, secession of part of a state from that state to form a new state, or secession of an area from a city or county....
from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and been part of the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. Marvin was in private practice 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 1863 to 1865.
Marvin was appointed provisional governor of Florida on July 13, 1865, by President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
, to reestablish the government of the state after the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Marvin left office on December 20, 1865. The Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
elected him to the United States 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...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, but the U.S. Senate refused to recognize the election and denied him a seat. Following the decision by the federal government to reconstruct the former Confederacy, he refused to run for any office.
In 1867, he left Florida and moved to Skaneateles, New York
Skaneateles, New York
Skaneateles, New York may refer to:*Skaneateles, New York *Skaneateles, New York...
. He remained in private practice until his death in Skaneateles in 1902.
Marvin was the author of a nationally recognized textbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
entitled Law of Wreck and Salvage, on salvage
Marine salvage
Marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, refloating a sunken or grounded vessel, or patching or repairing a ship...
law.