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

* * * * * * 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 {{Massachusetts-state-judge-stub