George Pierce Andrews was born on September 29, 1835 in Bridgton, Maine, United States. He traced his descent in a direct line from Robert Andrews of Norwich, England, who emigrated in May 1635, settling at Ipswich, Massachussets. A descendant, Capt. Abraham Andrews--a minute-man at Lexington and participant in Arnold's Quebec expedition--moved to Maine, and his grandson, Solomon Andrews, entered the lumber business at North Bridgton, Maine. There he married Sybil Ann Farnsworth.
The future judge received his early education at Bridgton and at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, subsequently attending Williston Seminary, Easthampton, and Dudley's Institute, Northampton, Massachussets.
He entered Yale in 1854, graduating in 1858 with the honor of "class orator. " He then studied law with Senator Fessenden at Portland, Maine, but in 1859 went to Louisiana as a private tutor, continuing, however, his law reading.
In 1860 he entered the office of the United States district attorney for the southern district of New York and was admitted to the New York bar in May of that year. He became well known through his connection with the famous Gordon case. A federal statute of 1820 had made slave-trading an act of piracy punishable by death, but no person had hitherto been condemned for an infraction of this law. Gordon was master of the ship Erie in August 1860, when she was captured off the west coast of Africa with 890 slaves on board. Gordon was indicted for piracy and the trial attracted great public attention. Andrews took charge of the prosecution, pressed it with much ability, and obtained a conviction; Gordon was hanged on February 21, 1862.
In 1863 Andrews was appointed first assistant district attorney. In this capacity it fell to him to conduct for the national government a large number of difficult prize cases.
In 1869 he resigned and commenced private practise. Fortunate in the confidence of Cornelius K. Garrison, who was a power in marine and financial circles in New York, he was retained in much heavy corporation litigation.
He was appointed first assistant corporation counsel to the City of New York in December 1872, becoming corporation counsel in 1882. In 1883 he was elected associate justice of the supreme court for the first judicial district of New York, serving the full term of fourteen years. He failed of reelection, but the following year was elected for a second term, continuing to hold office till his death.
Andrews was recognized as a high authority on the law appertaining to these subjects. Bringing to the bench a rich and varied experience in every phase of municipal and corporation business, his opinions on complicated questions arising under the tax laws were of exceptional value. It is also generally considered that his connection to the Gordon case put an end to the slave trade in the U. S.
Quotes from others about the person
John H. Judge: "Judge Andrews was thoughtful and reserved, but very genial in a quiet way and full of devotion to those he loved. He was a great reader of literature, especially French. He had a strong temper, but even under most trying circumstances rarely showed it. No Judge on our Bench was more courteous and kind to the bar, especially to its younger members. He was the most humane of Judges and the most judicial of men. "
In 1889 he married Mrs. Catherine M. Van Anken, daughter of his old client, Cornelius K. Garrison.
