James T. Austin

American politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Trecothick Austin (January 7, 1784 – May 8, 1870) was the 22nd Massachusetts Attorney General.[1] Austin was the son of Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts Jonathan L. Austin.[1] He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1824.[7] He graduated from Harvard College in 1802.[8]

Preceded byPerez Morton
Succeeded byJohn H. Clifford
(From 1849; Office Abolished from 1843–1849)
Preceded byPosition created
Quick facts 22nd Massachusetts Attorney General, Governor ...
James Trecothick Austin
22nd Massachusetts
Attorney General
In office
1832–1843
GovernorLevi Lincoln Jr.
John Davis
Samuel Turell Armstrong
Edward Everett
Marcus Morton
Preceded byPerez Morton
Succeeded byJohn H. Clifford
(From 1849; Office Abolished from 1843–1849)
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Attorney[1]
In office
1812[1]–1832[1]
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded bySamuel D. Parker
Personal details
BornJanuary 7, 1784[1]
Boston, Massachusetts[1]
DiedMay 8, 1870(1870-05-08) (aged 86)[1]
Boston, Massachusetts[1]
PartyAnti-Federalist,[1][2] National Republican Party[3][4]
SpouseCatharine Gerry[5]
ChildrenIvers James Austin, born February 14, 1808, d June 11, 1889;[6] Marie Cornelia Ritchie Austin, b. March 8, 1821, d, December 6, 1864.[5]
ProfessionAttorney[1]
Close

In 1837, he spoke at Faneuil Hall in praise of anti-abolitionists who had killed Elijah P. Lovejoy. He compared the mob to American patriots rising against the British and declared that Lovejoy "died as the fool dieth!"[9][a]

Family

Austin married Catharine Gerry,[6] the eldest daughter[6] of Elbridge Gerry,[5] they had a son, Ivers James Austin, born February 14, 1808,[6] and a daughter, Marie Cornelia Ritchie Austin, born on March 8, 1821.[5]

Notes

  1. The phrase is a reference to 2 Samuel 3:33, "And the king lamented over Abner, and said, 'Died Abner as a fool dieth?'"

References

Bibliography

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