Alexander Smith Johnson was an American lawyer and politician. He served as Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1858 to 1859.
Background
Johnson was born on July 30, 1817, in Utica, New York. His father, Alexander B. Johnson, one of the most influential citizens of that place, was the son of Bryan Johnson, who was prominent there when Utica was Old Fort Schuyler; his mother, Abigail Louisa Adams, was the daughter of the second son of President John Adams.
Education
Johnson attended a private school in Utica before entering Yale College in 1831. After graduating in 1835, he spent a year at Yale Law School. He then returned to Utica and continued his legal studies under Judge Samuel Beardsley until July 1838 when he was admitted to the bar.
Career
Johnson began his legal practice in Utica in 1835, but soon removed to New York City, where he had a comparatively short career as a lawyer. In 1851, at an earlier age than any other person upon whom the honor had been conferred, he was elected to the court of appeals for the full term of eight years. He was chief judge in 1858 and 1859.
His decisions were simple and precise expressions of a mind quick in the appreciation of facts and equipped with a varied and extensive knowledge of the law, and were absolutely impartial. In Wynehamer vs. People appears his opinion on the constitutionality of a statute to prevent intemperance, delivered in 1856, in which he held such a statute constitutional. At the expiration of his term the fortunes of politics retired him to private life and he returned to Utica to practice law.
In July 1864, confirmed January 1865, President Lincoln appointed him a commissioner under the treaty of July 1, 1863, with Great Britain, for the settlement of the claims of the Hudson's Bay and Puget's Sound agricultural companies. For three or four years these duties occupied his attention. In January 1873 he was appointed a member of the commission on appeals and in December of that year, to the court of appeals, which appointment expired December 31, 1874.
For some time he served as a regent of the University of the State of New York, and, according to the testimony of Judge E. C. Benedict, rendered invaluable service in building up the state library and the state cabinet of natural history.
He was appointed on a commission to revise the statutes of New York, but resigned when he was called to the federal bench in October 1875, from which time until his death he served as circuit judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. He died in Nassau, Bahama Islands, as a result of the strain of his judicial duties, on January 26, 1878.
His decisions were simple and precise expressions of a mind quick in the appreciation of facts and equipped with a varied and extensive knowledge of the law, and were absolutely impartial. In Wynehamer vs. People appears his opinion on the constitutionality of a statute to prevent intemperance, delivered in 1856, in which he held such a statute constitutional. At the expiration of his term the fortunes of politics retired him to private life and he returned to Utica to practice law.
In July 1864, confirmed January 1865, President Lincoln appointed him a commissioner under the treaty of July 1, 1863, with Great Britain, for the settlement of the claims of the Hudson's Bay and Puget's Sound agricultural companies. For three or four years these duties occupied his attention. In January 1873 he was appointed a member of the commission on appeals and in December of that year, to the court of appeals, which appointment expired December 31, 1874.
For some time he served as a regent of the University of the State of New York, and, according to the testimony of Judge E. C. Benedict, rendered invaluable service in building up the state library and the state cabinet of natural history.
He was appointed on a commission to revise the statutes of New York, but resigned when he was called to the federal bench in October 1875, from which time until his death he served as circuit judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. He died in Nassau, Bahama Islands, as a result of the strain of his judicial duties, on January 26, 1878.
Achievements
Personality
All his life Johnson was a student of scientific subjects and an enthusiastic microscopist. His private life was quiet and unostentatious. He was modest and unassuming in manner, free from vanity or self-assertion, and his integrity and ability brought him general esteem, evidenced by the fact that during the period when he was not on the bench he was frequently sought as arbitrator in private disputes.
Interests
hunting, fishing
Connections
In November 1852 Johnson was married to Catherine Maria Crysler, by whom he had four children.