William Callyhan Robinson (born 26 July 1834, at

Norwich, Connecticut Norwich ( ) (also called "The Rose of New England") is a city in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Yantic, Shetucket, and Quinebaug Rivers flow into the city and form its harbor, from which the Thames River flows south to Long ...

; d. 6 November 1911, at

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

) was an American jurist and academic.

Life

After studies at Norwich Academy and

Williston Seminary Williston Northampton School (simply referred to as Williston) is a private, co-educational, day and boarding college-preparatory school in Easthampton, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1841. History Williston Seminary was ...

, he matriculated at

Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the auspices of the Methodist Epis ...

in 1850, leaving the college at the close of his sophomore year in 1852. Subsequently, Robinson entered

Dartmouth College Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native A ...

, graduating from the latter institution in 1854 (at the age of 20). He then entered the Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and graduated in 1857. Ordained to the Episcopalian ministry, he served first at

Pittston, Pennsylvania Pittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated between Scranton, Pennsylvania, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The city gained prominence in the late 19th an ...

(1857-8), and then at

Scranton, Pennsylvania Scranton is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County. With a population of 76,328 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U ...

(1859–62). After a religious conversion, he was received into the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

in 1863. He was admitted to the Bar in 1864, and was lecturer and professor in law at

Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...

(1869–95). For two years (1869–71) he was judge of the City Court and later (1874-6) judge of the Court of Common Pleas at

New Haven New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134,02 ...

, Conn. In 1874 also he served as member of the Legislature. From Dartmouth College he received (1879) the degree LL.D., and from Yale University the degree M.A. (1881). In 1895 he was appointed professor in the

Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Roman Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by U.S. ...

, where he organized the School of Social Sciences and remained as Dean of the School of Law,

Columbus School of Law The Columbus School of Law, also known as Catholic Law or CUA Law, is the law school of the Catholic University of America, a private Roman Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. More than 400 Juris Doctor students attend Catholic Law ...

, until his death (1898–1911).

Works

Besides articles contributed to various periodicals, he wrote: *"Life of E. B. Kelly" (1855); *"Notes of Elementary Law" (1876); *"Elementary Law" (Boston, 1876); *"Clavis Rerum" (1883); *"Law of Patents" (3 vols., Boston, 1890); *"Forensic Oratory" (Boston, 1893); *"Elements of American Jurisprudence" (Boston, 1900).

Family

He married 2 July 1857, Anna Elizabeth Haviland and, 31 March 1891, Ultima Marie Smith.

References

;Attribution * The entry cites: **''Catholic University Bulletin'' (Dec., 1911); **''Catholic Educational Review'' (Dec., 1911).

External links

William Callyhan Robinson Papers (MS 1441).
Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library. {{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, William Callyhan 1834 births 1911 deaths Wesleyan University alumni American jurists Converts to Roman Catholicism from Anglicanism Columbus School of Law faculty Williston Northampton School alumni Dartmouth College alumni Yale University alumni