Gerhardus (Gerard) Diephuis (6 February 1817, Farmsum – 4 November 1892,

Groningen Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...

) was a Dutch jurist. After studies in

, he was a judge with the arrondissement court in Winschoten and later with a higher court in Groningen. In 1840 he married Alagonda Geertruida Hemmes, with whom he had ten children. In 1859 he became a full professor at the university of Groningen. During the period 1864–1865 he was the rector magnificus of this institution. Diephuis was a leading proponent of legism and of the primacy of legislation. Influenced by French teachings, he wrote numerous textbooks on Dutch civil law. He was also instrumental in further diminishing the influence of Roman and

customary law A legal custom is the established pattern of behavior that can be objectively verified within a particular social setting. A claim can be carried out in defense of "what has always been done and accepted by law". Customary law (also, consuetudina ...

in favour of codified legislation.

References

* 1817 births 1892 deaths Dutch jurists Rectors of universities in the Netherlands University of Groningen alumni University of Groningen faculty People from Delfzijl {{Netherlands-law-bio-stub