George Handy Bates

Background

He was born on November 19, 1845 in at Dover, son of Judge Daniel Moore Bates.

Education

He received his primary education in the Wilmington schools. In 1862 he entered the University of Pennsylvania, but after prosecuting his studies there for two years went West and engaged in business in Michigan. His health, however, became impaired and in 1866 he returned to the East and read law in his father's office at Wilmington. He also attended the Harvard Law School and was admitted to the Kent County (Del. ) bar in April 1869.

Career

Commencing practise in Wilmington he identified himself actively with the Democratic party and was appointed deputy attorney-general, in this capacity engaging in a number of notable criminal prosecutions, among which was that of the Delaware Bank robbers. Resuming private practise in 1874, he devoted much time to the study of constitutional and international law, and took a prominent part in local politics, being a delegate to the National Democratic Conventions of 1880, 1884, and 1888. He represented New Castle County in the Delaware legislature 1882-83; and was speaker of the House in the latter year.

In 1883 he was also appointed a member of the Board of Park Commissioners for the City of Wilmington, an office which he retained till 1894. His political affiliations had brought him into close association with Senator Thomas F. Bayard, and, though never a "practical" politician, he occupied for some years an influential position in the councils of the Democratic party in the state. Retained in much important litigation, his work as special counsel for Delaware in the Delaware-New Jersey boundary dispute was of a high order and exhibited great ability.

In 1886 he was, at the instance of Bayard - then secretary of state - appointed by President Cleveland special agent to investigate the condition of affairs in Samoa, concurrently with but independent of similar representatives of Great Britain and Germany. He spent some months in the Islands and his able and exhaustive report, December 10, 1886, reviewed in detail the causes of the difficulties under which the Samoan Government labored and suggested as a solution the formation of a native government but with the real executive power exercised by whites nominated by the three powers, who should mutually guarantee the neutrality and autonomy of the new Government.

In the futile negotiations which followed he took no part, but he was appointed by President Harrison one of the United States commissioners to the joint conference with Great Britain and Germany on Samoan affairs which met at Berlin April 29, 1889, his colleagues being W. W. Phelps and J. A. Kasson. The treaty which was there concluded between the three powers was a signal triumph for him since its major provisions followed the recommendations embodied in his report to Secretary Bayard.

After his return from Berlin he took little part in public affairs, but continued to practise law in Wilmington till 1896, when he removed to Philadelphia. He edited Delaware Chancery Reports, Volumes III and IV, and during his later years was associated with Francis Rawle in the second and third revisions of Bouvier's Law Dictionary.

Achievements

• He is remembered as a Democratic politician and a contributor to Bouvier's Law Dictionary.

Connections

He married May 26, 1870, Elizabeth B. Russell, daughter of C. T. Russell, a Boston lawyer, and sister of William E. Russell, governor of Massachusetts.

father:

Judge Daniel Moore Bates

Wife:

Elizabeth B. Russell

References

• American Relations In The Pacific And The Far East 1784-1900