Samuel Ames was an American jurist and lawyer. From 1856 to 1865 he served as chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Background
Samuel Ames was born on September 6, 1806 at Providence, Rhode Island, United States. He was descended from one Robert Ames (or Eames) who settled at Boxford, Massachussets, about 1650. Fourth in descent from this Robert Ames was a Samuel Ames, storekeeper in Providence, married to Anne Checkley (Chichele). Samuel was their eldest son.
Education
Ames received his early education at Providence and at Phillips Academy, Andover. Proceeding thence to Brown University, he graduated in 1823 at the early age of seventeen. He then attended the law school at Litchfield, Connecticut, being admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1826.
Career
In 1826 Ames opened an office in Providence. In 1832 he assisted Joseph K. Angell in the preparation of the latter's authoritative treatise on corporation law. Although not greatly interested in politics, Ames was an extremely effective speaker, took an active part in public affairs, and several times served in the city council. In 1841 he was elected representative for Providence in the General Assembly, and, with brief intermissions, continued a member of the legislature till February 1851.
During the so-called "Dorr Rebellion" in 1842 he adhered to the status quo, serving as quartermaster-general of the state troops.
His law practise had been steadily growing, and he became the recognized leader of the Rhode Island bar, on several occasions being retained before the United States Supreme Court.
In 1853 the legislature appointed him state representative to adjust the boundary between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In October 1854 he became chairman of the commission to revise the state laws--which resulted in the first complete restatement of the statutory law of Rhode Island.
In May 1856 he was elected chief justice of the supreme court of Rhode Island and reporter. Unsettled constitutional questions of vital importance came up for solution shortly after his appointment. In 1861 he attended as a representative of Rhode Island the futile Peace Conference at Washington.
Achievements
Personality
As a young man, it is said, Ames' distinguishing characteristics were a positive manner, athletic figure, and careful dress. Despite a keen enjoyment of social amenities he was an insatiable student and rapidly forged to the front. On the bench he enjoyed the confidence of the bar and of the public to a remarkable extent, and his judgments were accorded a respect which was not confined to the state itself. His strong alert mind and quick logical perception made him at times somewhat impatient in dealing with men of less capacity. He seldom reserved a decision, and his reasons for judgment were usually brief. The extent of contemporaneous admiration is indicated by the name applied to him of "The Great Chief Justice. "
Connections
On June 27, 1839, Ames married Mary Throop Dorr, the sister of Thomas Wilson Dorr. They had five children.