John Gardiner

Background

John Gardiner was the eldest son of Silvester Gardiner and his first wife, Anne Gibbins (or Gibbons). He was born on December 4, 1737, in Boston.

Education

In his early years, John attended the local schools there, but in 1748, was sent to England to complete his education. In 1752, he matriculated at the University of Glasgow, where he graduated M. A. in 1755.

He was admitted as a student at the Inner Temple January 23, 1758, reading in the chambers of Charles Pratt, who subsequently as Lord Camden became Lord Chancellor.

Career

Called to the English bar June 5, 1761, and joining the Welsh Circuit, Gardiner achieved a measure of success in assize work and in London circles was known as an ardent Whig.

Making the acquaintance of Wilkes, Churchill, and other extreme radicals, he became a strong advocate of their cause, and was retained as counsel for Wilkes on his trial, also appearing in a like capacity for the latter’s supporters, Breadmore and Meredith.

In 1766, he was offered the chief-justiceship of New York and two years later (1768) accepted appointment as attorney-general of the island of St. Christopher in the West Indies, taking up hi: residence there the same year with his wife.

His avowed Whig sympathies, however, impelled the British government to remove him from office. He continued in practise for some years on the Island, but in 1783, returned to Boston, being there naturalized as a citizen by special act of the legislature in February 1784.

He quickly came to the front at the Boston bar, at the same time participating in the local political controversies. In 1786, he removed to Pownalboro in the District of Maine. Here he practised law and was elected to the Massachusetts General Court as representative of the town in 1789.

His speech, in favor of public dramatic performances, delivered in the House on January 26, 1792, was published in pamphlet form in that year together with his “Dissertation on the Ancient Poetry of the Romans. ”

Achievements

• When residing in Boston, Gardiner had been instrumental in handing over the Episcopalian King’s Chapel to the Unitarians, and when he was a member of the General Court he vehemently advocated the repeal of the existing laws against theatres. His one outstanding legislative achievement was the abolition of entails and the repeal of the law of primogeniture in Massachusetts.

Politics

In his early days, John was an advanced Whig, and in his later years, a convinced Republican.

Views

Gardiner was also a strenuous advocate of simplicity in the procedure of the courts and abrogation of the technicalities of “special pleading. ”

Personality

All his life a zealous advocate of reform and somewhat of a free lance, John occupied a conspicuous place in the public eye by reason of the bold stand he took in reference to current questions.

His pertinacity in prosecuting these and other changes in the existing law caused him to be known as “the law reformer” throughout the commonwealth.

John was tenacious in his convictions, eloquent in their expression, an accomplishedlawyer and somewhat of a wit, he seemed destined for high office, but his career was cut short by drowning when the Londoner, the vessel in which he was traveling to Boston for the purpose of attending the legislature, was wrecked off Cape Ann.

Connections

Gardiner was married to Margaret Harries, daughter of George Harries, of Haverfordwest, Wales. Their son John Sylvester John Gardiner was for twenty-five years rector of Trinity Church, Boston.

Father:

Silvester Gardiner

Mother:

Anne Gibbins (or Gibbons)

Son:

John Sylvester John Gardiner

Wife:

Margaret Harries