William M. Evarts

William Maxwell Evarts (February 6, 1818–February 28, 1901) was an American lawyer and statesman. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of author, editor, and Indian removal opponent Jeremiah Evarts, and the grandson of Declaration of Independence signer Roger Sherman.

Political Career

A Whig Party supporter before joining the fledgling Republican Party , Evarts was appointed an assistant United States district attorney and served from 1849-1853. In 1860 he was chairman of the New York delegation to the Republican National Convention. In 1861 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate from New York. He was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1867-1868.

Related Topics:
Whig Party - Republican Party - 1860 - Republican National Convention - 1861 - United States Senate

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He was chief counsel for President Andrew Johnson during the impeachment trial, and from July 1868 until March 1869 he was Johnson's Attorney General of the United States. In 1872 he was counsel for the United States before the tribunal of arbitration on the Alabama claims at Geneva, Switzerland.

Related Topics:
President - Andrew Johnson - Impeachment - 1868 - 1869 - Attorney General of the United States - 1872 - United States - Arbitration - Alabama claims - Geneva, Switzerland

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Evarts served as counsel for President-elect Rutherford B. Hayes, on behalf of the Republican Party, before the Electoral Commission in the disputed U.S. presidential election of 1876. During President Rutherford B. Hayes's administration he was United States Secretary of State. He was a delegate to the International Monetary Conference at Paris 1881.

Related Topics:
Rutherford B. Hayes - Electoral Commission - U.S. presidential election of 1876 - United States Secretary of State - 1881

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From 1885 to 1891 he was a U.S. Senator from New York. While in Congress (49th, 50th and 51st Congresses), he served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Library from 1887 to 1891. As an orator Senator Evarts stood in the foremost rank, and some of his best speeches were published.

Related Topics:
1885 - 1891 - New York - 49th - 50th - 51st - U.S. Senate Committee on the Library

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He led the American fund-raising effort for the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty and spoke at its unveiling on October 28, 1886.

Related Topics:
Statue of Liberty - 1886

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