Nathaniel Bacon (Michigan jurist) explained

Nathaniel Bacon
Office:Justice of Michigan Supreme Court
Term Start:1855
Term End:1857
Birth Date:July 14th 1802
Death Date:September 9th 1869
Successor:Position eliminated
Education:Union College
Predecessor:Charles W. Whipple
Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
Office2:Judge, Circuit Court for the Second Circuit
Term2:1855-1863, 1867-1869

Nathaniel Bacon (1802–1869) was a member of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1855 to 1857.[1] [2]

Biography

Bacon was born at Ballston Spa, New York. He graduated from Union College in 1824.[3] He was admitted to the bar in 1827 and in 1828 opened law offices in Rochester, New York. In 1833, he moved to Niles, Michigan.[4] Bacon served as a prosecutor and a probate judge of Berrien County from 1833-1855. In 1851, Nathaniel Bacon ran for attorney general of Michigan on the Whig ticket[5] but lost to William Hale.[6]

In 1855, Bacon was appointed as judge of the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit by Governor Bingham to replace Charles W. Whipple, which also made him part of the Michigan Supreme Court. The court was reorganized in 1858. In 1857, elections were held for a new separate Supreme Court, but Bacon did not run. He continued serving as circuit judge until 1863, and then again from 1867 to 1869. He was still serving on the second circuit at the time of his death.[7] [8]

Personal life

He was a member of the Whig Party and the Republican Party. He held antislavery views. He married Jane S. Sweetman in 1827 and had two sons with her. He married his second wife, Caroline S. Lord, in 1845.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Michigan Manual 2015-2016 . Michigan State Legislature . 2016 . 367 . en.
  2. Book: Moreno . Paul . Michigan Supreme Court Historical Reference Guide, 2nd Edition . Chardavoyne . David . 2015 . Michigan State University Press . 978-1-60917-441-5 . . p. 48
  3. Class of 1824 folder. Alumni Files. Union College Schaffer Library Special Collections. Schenectady, NY. p. 5.
  4. Web site: Nathaniel Bacon – MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY . 2024-03-31 . en-US.
  5. News: Humanities . National Endowment for the . 1852-10-26 . The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, October 26, 1852, Image 2 ]. 2024-03-31 . 2471-9153.
  6. News: Humanities . National Endowment for the . 1852-11-24 . Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, November 24, 1852, Image 2 ]. 2024-03-31 . 2332-6255.
  7. News: Humanities . National Endowment for the . 1860-05-23 . The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, May 23, 1860, Image 1 ]. 2024-03-31.
  8. News: Humanities . National Endowment for the . 1864-02-11 . The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, February 11, 1864, Image 1 ]. 2024-03-31 . 2332-6298.
  9. News: 1887-09-08 . Mrs. Judge Bacon . Niles Republican . 5.