27 Facts About Lemuel Shaw

Lemuel Shaw was an American jurist who served as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

In 1847, Shaw became the father-in-law of author Herman Melville.

Lemuel Shaw ruled on prominent cases involving slavery, segregation, and religion.

Shaw was born in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, the second son of the Rev Oakes Shaw and his second wife Susanna, who was a daughter of John H Hayward of Braintree.

Lemuel Shaw was named for his uncle, Dr Hayward of Boston, father of George Hayward, the surgeon.

Lemuel Shaw became engaged to Nancy Melvill, daughter of Maj.

In politics, Lemuel Shaw was first a Federalist and later a Webster Whig, but remained all his life a free-trader.

Lemuel Shaw attended Unitarian services, though he was never a communicant.

Lemuel Shaw was prepared for his judicial career by numerous public positions.

Lemuel Shaw served as a member of the constitutional convention of 1820.

Lemuel Shaw was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1823.

Daniel Webster successfully urged Lemuel Shaw to accept, though it meant giving up a practice of $15,000 to $20,000 a year for a salary of $3,500.

Lemuel Shaw served for almost exactly 30 years, resigning on August 21,1860.

Some commentators have argued that Lemuel Shaw had more influence on the development of American law than any other state court judge in the country's history.

Lemuel Shaw's opinions were not often readily quotable and are instead recognized for solid reasoning.

Lemuel Shaw was renowned for his ability to clearly instruct juries.

Lemuel Shaw attempted to split the decision by applying the archaic "sojourner" status to slaves.

Therefore, Lemuel Shaw reasoned that a state or jurisdiction is not required to honor comity if in doing so it is sanctioning practices repugnant to the state's own norms.

Lemuel Shaw's ruling in favor of the constitutionality of school segregation in Roberts v City of Boston established "separate but equal" as a legal doctrine in the state.

Sullivan makes the case in his book that Lemuel Shaw overstepped his judicial bounds in his charge to the jury.

Lemuel Shaw stated that the corpus delicti was to be proved "beyond a reasonable doubt" only, and then the guilt of the accused "beyond a reasonable doubt".

Lemuel Shaw further instructed the jury that the corpus delicti could be established beyond a reasonable doubt by circumstantial evidence alone.

On January 6,1818, Lemuel Shaw married Elizabeth Knapp, daughter of Josiah Knapp of Boston.

Lemuel Shaw died in 1822, leaving a son and a daughter, Elizabeth, who became the wife of author Herman Melville.

Widely read in English literature, Lemuel Shaw was attracted by new mechanical processes and was a member of many learned and charitable societies.

Lemuel Shaw was a fellow of Harvard College from 1834 until his death, and an overseer from 1831 to 1853, two offices rarely united.

Lemuel Shaw was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1855.