Edwin W. Stoughton

Edwin Wallace Stoughton (May 14, 1818 – January 7, 1882)[1] was an American lawyer and diplomat.

Edwin W. Stoughton
United States Minister to Russia
In office
October 30, 1877 – March 2, 1879
PresidentRutherford B. Hayes
Preceded byGeorge H. Boker
Succeeded byJohn W. Foster
Personal details
Born(1818-05-04)May 4, 1818
Springfield, Vermont
DiedJanuary 7, 1882(1882-01-07) (aged 63)
New York City, New York
Resting placeOld South Church Cemetery in Windsor, Vermont
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionLawyer

Biography

Edwin Wallace Stoughton was born in Springfield, Vermont on May 4, 1818. At age 18 he moved to New York City to study law, was admitted to the bar, and began a practice.

Stoughton was a famed patent lawyer, most notably working for Charles Goodyear during Goodyear's lawsuits over his process for using heat and sulphur to process rubber (Vulcanization).

A member of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party, during the Ulysses S. Grant administration Stoughton published a treatise defending Grant's use of federal troops in Louisiana during Reconstruction.

After the disputed Hayes-Tilden presidential election of 1876 he defended Hayes' claim to the office, and was one of the lawyers who represented Hayes before the Electoral Commission appointed to settle the contest. When Hayes took office he displayed his gratitude by naming Stoughton Minister to Russia. He served in Saint Petersburg until becoming ill in 1879, when he resigned.

Stoughton never fully recovered his health and lived in retirement until his death. He died in New York City on January 7, 1882. Former President Grant was one of the pallbearers at his funeral. He was buried at the Old South Church Cemetery in Windsor, Vermont.

Family

Edwin Wallace Stoughton was the brother of Henry Evander Stoughton, with whom he practiced law. He was the uncle of Edwin Henry Stoughton and Charles Bradley Stoughton, both of whom served as Union Army generals during the American Civil War. He was also the stepfather of philosopher and historian John Fiske.

References
  1. "The Late Edwin W. Stoughton; Funeral Services at the Calvary Church Yesterday Morning". The New York Times. 1882-01-11. Retrieved 2009-08-03.

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