George Purnell Fisher

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American judge (1817–1899)

This article is about the lawyer and politician from nineteenth-century Delaware. For others, see George Fisher (disambiguation) .

George Purnell Fisher (October 13, 1817 – February 10, 1899) was Attorney General of Delaware , Secretary of State of Delaware , a United States representative from Delaware and an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (now the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ).

Education and career

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Born on October 13, 1817, in Milford , Sussex County, Delaware ,

Fisher attended the public schools of Kent County, Delaware , Mount St. Mary's College (now Mount St. Mary's University ) in Emmitsburg, Maryland , then graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania , in July 1838. He read law with John M. Clayton , then the Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court , and was admitted to the bar in 1841. He entered private practice in Dover, Delaware , starting in 1841. He was clerk for the Delaware Senate in 1843. He was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives in 1844. He was appointed Secretary of State of Delaware by Governor Joseph Maull , serving from 1846 to 1847. He was Aide-de-camp to Major General Nathaniel Young, Commander of the Delaware Militia, starting in 1846. He was confidential clerk to United States Secretary of State John M. Clayton from 1849 to 1850. Fisher assisted in negotiating the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty with Great Britain. He was a Commissioner to settle claims of United States Citizens against Brazil from 1850 to 1852. He was private secretary for President Millard Fillmore starting in 1852. He was Attorney General of Delaware from 1855 to 1860.

Congressional service

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Fisher was elected as a Unionist from Delaware's at-large congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 37th United States Congress , serving from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1863. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1862 to the 38th United States Congress . Following his departure from Congress, he was a Colonel in the First Delaware Cavalry in 1863.

Compensated emancipation proposal

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In Congress, Fisher supported Abraham Lincoln 's compensated emancipation proposal, but failed to find someone in the Delaware General Assembly willing to introduce it.

Federal judicial service

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Fisher was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln on March 10, 1863, to the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (now the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ) to a new Associate Justice seat authorized by 12 Stat. 762. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 11, 1863, and received his commission the same day. His service ended on May 1, 1870, with his resignation.

Notable case

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In 1867, Fisher presided over the trial of John Surratt , one of the Lincoln assassination conspirators .

Later career

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Following his resignation from the federal bench, Fisher served

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