Charles Allen (April 17, 1827 – January 13, 1913) was an American
jurist.
Early life and education
Allen was born at
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Greenfield was first settled in 1686. The population was 17,768 at the 2020 census. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Val ...
to Sylvester and Harriet (Ripley) Allen.
Allen graduated from
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
in 1847 and studied law.
He received the degree of
LL.D.
Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...
from Harvard in 1892.
Legal career
Allen was admitted to the bar in 1850 and practiced law at Greenfield for twelve years, then advanced to state offices, serving as the
Massachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected constitutionally defined executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The officeholder is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The officeholder ...
from 1867 to 1872.
During his sixteen years of service (1882–1898) on the bench of the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court,
he became known as one of the most eminent jurists of his day.
Works
Allen's publications include:
* ''Allen's Reports'' (14 vols., 1861–1867)
* ''Telegraph Cases'' (1900)
* ''Notes on the Bacon-Shakespeare Question'' (1900)
Notes
References
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1827 births
1913 deaths
Harvard Law School alumni
Massachusetts Attorneys General
Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Massachusetts lawyers
19th-century American people
People from Greenfield, Massachusetts
19th-century American judges
19th-century American lawyers
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