Paul Dudley was an American lawyer. He was elected a member of the legislature and the Executive Council.
Background
Paul Dudley was born on September 3, 1675 at Roxbury, Massachusetts, United States, with which place both his grandfather, Governor Thomas Dudley, and his father, Gov. Joseph Dudley, were intimately associated. The latter married Rebecca, daughter of Judge Edward Tyng, and Paul was their fourth and eldest surviving son.
Education
Dudley entered Harvard College in 1686 and graduated in 1690.
After reading law for a short time in Boston, he went to England, became a student at the Middle Temple, November 10, 1697, and was called to the bar November 22, 1700.
Career
In 1702, having received a commission from Queen Anne as attorney-general of the province of Massachusetts Bay and advocate in the viceadmiralty court at Boston, he returned to America. On his arrival he was appointed attorneygeneral by the Governor and Council, it being considered expedient not to use the Royal commission in view of a sharp disagreement between the Council and Assembly as to the right to appoint. For some years his position in Boston was difficult, partly because of his zeal in championing the claims of the Crown to interfere in the administration of provincial affairs, but chiefly by reason of the unpopularity of his father and the bitter animosity of the Mather faction. He fulfilled his duties, however, with much tact, and his absolute integrity and sincere patriotism became gradually recognized. One of his first official acts was to take proceedings against and arrest a body of pirates who were infesting the coasts, some of whom were subsequently executed in Boston.
He was later elected a member of the legislature and the Executive Council, and in that capacity introduced reforms which materially improved the machinery of justice.
In 1718 he was appointed a judge of the superior court of judicature, and contemporaries without exception testify that on the bench he displayed great ability.
He was an accomplished naturalist, deeply interested in the local antiquities, and wrote a number of pamphlets dealing chiefly with natural history, also contributing papers to the Royal Society, which were published in Philosophical Transactions, vols. XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, and XXXIX. He was one of the few Americans to be elected members of that body.
He wrote An Essay on the Merchandise of Slaves and Souls of Men (1731) and a number of theological tracts. In his will he left a bequest to Harvard College for the purpose of providing an annual lecture or sermon dealing with one of four designated theological subjects.
Achievements
Religion
In his later years Dudley became a pronounced Puritan in religious matters.
Personality
Generous, hospitable, and charitable, “Dudley was apt to be a little antiquated and out of fashion in his dress. When off the Bench he would often be seen conversing familiarly with the commonest people, having his hands upon their shoulders”. He could, however, be imperious and even dictatorial, if he considered the occasion demanded it.
A sound lawyer, energetic, industrious, and attentive to the dispatch of business, he acquired the confidence and respect of the public.
Connections
In 1703 Dudley married Lucy, daughter of Colonel John Wainwright of Ipswich.