George Washington Nesmith
George Washington Nesmith (October 1800 โ May 2, 1890) was a justice of the
Early life, education, and career
Nesmith graduated from Dartmouth College in 1820.[1]
In the
His close friendship with Daniel Webster was "one of his most pleasant recollections", and he has long been quoted in matters relating to the history of the great expounder. He was noted as having "resembled Webster somewhat in personal appearance".[1] Nesmith first saw Webster speak in 1818, while Nesmith was still a student at Dartmouth. He became personally acquainted with Webster around 1824, when brothers Daniel and Ezekiel Webster visited a farm that had been their childhood haunt, and over the following years, Nesmith and Webster became very close friends.[3] In 1858, Nesmith wrote a well-received biography of Webster's father, Ebenezer Webster.[4]
Judicial service and academia
In 1859 he was appointed one of the judges of the supreme court to a seat vacated by the resignation of
He was a trustee and afterward president of the
In 1889, Nesmith was again selected as a presidential elector, for Benjamin Harrison in the 1888 United States presidential election. This time, Nesmith's candidate won both the national election and the state of New Hampshire, and Nesmith was selected to chair the gathering of electors for the state in casting their votes for Harrison.[2]
Only a few weeks before his death, Nesmith contributed an article on "Oratory" to The Dartmouth.[1] He died in the hamlet of Franklin Falls, New York, after a short illness. He was nearly 90 years old.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Death of Judge Nesmith", The St Johnsbury Caledonian (May 8, 1890), p. 4.
- ^ a b "New Hampshire Presidential Elector, Who was Candidate at the Election of William Henry Harrison", The Boston Globe (January 16, 1889), p. 4.
- ^ "Stories of Webster", The Athens Daily News (July 11, 1890), p. 2.
- ^ "The Father of Daniel Webster", Vermont Standard (May 28, 1858), p. 1.
- ^ "Appointments in New Hampshire", New England Farmer (January 7, 1860), p. 2.
- ^ "Chosen College Trustees", The New York Times (August 25, 1883), p. 2.