Christopher Francis Parkhurst (sometimes referred to as C. Frank Parkhurst; September 17, 1854 – July 1, 1925)[1] [2] was an associate justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1905 to 1917 and chief justice from 1917 to 1920.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Parkhurst was a maternal descendant of Roger Williams.[1] He graduated from Brown University in 1876.
From 1892 to 1895 he was a member of the Providence Common Council, and from 1900 to 1902 he served in the Rhode Island Senate.[1] In April 1902, Parkhurst was appointed by the New York Supreme Court to act as ancillary receiver in bankruptcy for the Oriental Print Works Company,[3] and in 1904, Parkhurst was designated by the Rhode Island Supreme Court to serve as master of chancery for considering claims by creditors against the American Tubing and Webbing Company.[4]
On February 23, 1905, Parkhurst was elected by unanimous vote of the Rhode Island General Assembly to a seat on the Rhode Island Supreme Court,[5] which had been vacated by the elevation of Justice William W. Douglas to the position of Chief Justice following the death of Pardon E. Tillinghast.[6]
On March 9, 1917, the General Assembly elected Parkhurst Chief Justice, following the retirement of Chief Justice Clarke H. Johnson.[7] Parkhurst resigned in 1920 due to poor health.[1] [8]
Parkhurst married Estelle Louise Eliot, with whom he had a son and a daughter.[2] He died of bronchial pneumonia at his home in Providence at the age of 71.[1]