Background
Scudder, Townsend was born on July 26, 1865 in Northport, Suffolk Company, New York, United States. Son of Townsend and Sarah M. (Frost) Scudder.
United States representative judge lawyer politician
Scudder, Townsend was born on July 26, 1865 in Northport, Suffolk Company, New York, United States. Son of Townsend and Sarah M. (Frost) Scudder.
Townsend attended preparatory schools in Europe and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1888.
Born in Northport, Scudder was a nephew of Henry Joel Scudder, also a U.S. Representative from New York. He was admitted to the bar in 1889 and commenced practice in New York City. Scudder was corporation counsel for Queens County from 1893 to 1899, and was elected as a Democrat to the 56th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1899 to March 3, 1901.
He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1900 and resumed the practice of law. He was elected to the 58th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1903, to March 3, 1905. Scudder was a justice of the New York Supreme Court (2nd District) from 1907 to 1920, and afterwards again resumed the practice of law in New York City.
In 1921, he was defeated for the New York Court of Appeals by Republican William S. Andrews. He was State park commissioner and vice president of the Long Island State Park Commission from 1924 to 1927. Scudder was active in the world of dogs.
In 1932, he was the BIS (best in show) judge at the WKC (Westminster Kennel Club) dog show. Scudder remained on the bench until the end of 1936, when he reached the constitutional age limit of 70 years. Scudder died in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1960.
Interment was in Putnam Cemetery.
He was appointed to the New York Supreme Court by Governor Alfred E. Smith in February 1927, and was subsequently nominated by the two major political parties to succeed himself for the full term of fourteen years.
Married Mary Dannat Thayer (she died January 2, 1924).; married second, Alice Booth, d. Children: Atala Thayer (Mistress Wilbert C. Davison), Elizabeth Hewlett (Mistress Wadleigh Capehart), Townsend III.