Edward Nicoll Dickerson

Background

Edward Nicoll Dickerson was born on February 11, 1824 at Paterson, New Jersey, United States. He was son of Philemon and Sidney (Stotesbury) Dickerson and nephew of Mahlon Dickerson.

Education

Entering the College of New Jersey (Princeton) at an early age, Dickerson there met Joseph Henry of the Smithsonian Institution, who induced him to take an interest in science and mechanics which gradually developed into an absorbing study and had a permanent effect upon his professional career. Leaving college without graduating, he read law with his father, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar at Paterson in 1845.

Career

For a short time thereafter Dickerson officiated as clerk of the federal district court, of which his father was judge, and then commenced practise for himself. By this time he had become an expert mechanical engineer.

His earliest case of first-class importance was Colt vs. Massachuselts Arms Company, a suit brought to establish the validity of Samuel Colt’s patent for fire arms. Dickerson represented the plaintiff throughout and at the trial, which took place at Boston and extended over three weeks, won a decisive victory, despite the fact that Rufus Choate was his opponent.

In 1852 he moved his office to New York City, and at once assumed a leading position at the bar there, specializing in patent law. During this period his outstanding case was Goodyear vs. Day, involving the validity of Charles Goodyear’s patent for vulcanized India rubber, in which he was associated with J. T. Brady and Daniel Webster for the plaintiff, Rufus Choate being for the defense.

The heavy work in connection with the vital scientific details of the case was all performed by him and resulted in a complete triumph.

He was an incessant worker and, despite his weighty professional engagements, which of their very nature invariably involved intense technical attention, continued to enlarge the scope of his investigations in the field of mechanical engineering, more particularly as regards marine propulsion. This gave rise eventually to his connection with the “expansion” and “non-expansion” controversy, at the commencement of the Civil War.

Acting upon a theory of the chief engineer of the navy that James Watt had made a serious error in maintaining that steam produced more power when worked expansively than otherwise, Secretary Gideon Whiles had ordered engines of the non-expansion type for the new naval vessels.

Dickerson promptly protested, in letters to the secretary and in communications to Congress which attracted wide attention, and, though his efforts were fruitless at the time, experience subsequently demonstrated the correctness of his views.

At the height of his reputation he retired temporarily from practise in order to undertake an extensive program of foreign travel, in the course of which he spent considerable time in Europe, and also visited Central America.

In 1873, however, he returned to the bar, and thenceforth was constantly engaged, the great majority of his retainers being in patent matters. He appeared for the defense in the suits arising out of the disaster to the Staten Island ferry boat Westfield involving the loss of many lives, and gained a verdict in each case.

The last years of his life were occupied chiefly in the suits involving the electrical patents of Thomas A. Edison, and the rights of the Western Union Telegraph Company and the American Bell Telephone Comраnу.

He acted as counsel for the latter company throughout its protracted litigation, and made the final successful argument in the Supreme Court of the United States.

As an advocate in his own sphere he was supreme, his profound knowledge of scientific technique combining with a facility of lucid explanation and intense industry in mastering every detail of his cases to make him equally formidable on trial or in appeal. He did not, however, possess a judicial mind, his greatest fault being his inability to see more than one side of a case.

Achievements

• Dickerson ran the first locomotive that was used on the railroad between Paterson and Jersey City.

Works

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  • Supreme Court of the United States, Oct. Term 1886: The Telephone Appeals. (Jan.24 - Feb.8, 1887). A.E.Dolbear Et Al., the Molecular Telephone Co., Et ... for the American Bell Telephone Company

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The Steam Navy of the United States: Its Past, Present, and Future; A Letter to the Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from The Steam Navy of the United States: Its Pas...)

  • Joseph Henry and the Magnetic Telegraph. An Address Delivered at Princeton College, June 16, 1885

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

  • The Argument of Mr. Edward N. Dickerson: With His Notes and Explanations; The Charge of Judge Nelson; And the Verdict of the Jury, in the Case of Sickels Vs; Borden (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from The Argument of Mr. Edward N. Dickerson: Wit...)

Politics

Politically Dickerson was “a Democrat of the Jackson school of Democracy” (George Ticknor Curtis, post), though he never took a prominent part in public affairs. During the Civil War he was a War Democrat and was outspoken in support of the reelection of Lincoln. Later he disapproved of the free-trade policy of his party under Cleveland.

Personality

Dickerson's appearance was impressive. He was six feet three inches in height, of massive frame, always erect, firm of step and dignified in manner.

Interests

• Apart from law and science, Dickerson's only interest was sailing; he maintained and himself sailed a splendidly equipped yacht.