Walbridge A. Field

Walbridge Abner Field
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1877  March 28, 1878
Preceded by Henry L. Pierce
Succeeded by Benjamin Dean
In office
March 4, 1879  March 3, 1881
Preceded by Benjamin Dean
Succeeded by Ambrose Ranney
Boston School Committee
In office
1863–1864
Boston Common Council (wards 5 and 8)
In office
1865–1867
Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
In office
February 21, 1881  September 4, 1890
Appointed by John Davis Long
Preceded by Seth Ames
Succeeded by James Madison Morton
12th Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
In office
September 4, 1890  July 15, 1899
Appointed by John Quincy Adams Brackett
Preceded by Marcus Morton
Succeeded by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Personal details
Born April 26, 1833
Springfield, Vermont
Died July 15, 1899 (aged 66)
Boston, Massachusetts
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) October 4, 1869 Eliza E. McLoon (died March 1877), October 31, 1882 Frances Farwell
Children Eleanor Louise, Elizabeth Lenthal
Alma mater Dartmouth College
Harvard Law School
Profession Lawyer
Religion Congregationalist

Walbridge Abner Field (April 26, 1833 – July 15, 1899) was an American lawyer, jurist and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts, and as the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He was born in North Springfield, Vermont on April 26, 1833. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1855, where he also served as a tutor. He studied law in Boston, Massachusetts and at the Harvard Law School. Field was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Boston. He served as a member of the City's school committee, and represented wards 5 and 8 on Boston's Common Council.

Walbridge Abner Field as a young man

Field was appointed assistant United States Attorney in 1865, serving in this capacity until April 1869, when he was appointed Assistant Attorney General of the United States, holding this office until August 1870, when he resigned. He resumed the practice of law in Boston, and presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Forty-fifth Congress where he served from March 4, 1877, to March 28, 1878, when he was succeeded by Benjamin Dean who contested his election. He was elected as a Republican to the Forty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881). He declined to be a candidate for renomination.

Field was appointed by Governor John Davis Long to the bench of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on February 21, 1881. He was promoted by Governor John Quincy Adams Brackett to the position of Chief Justice on September 4, 1890 and served until his death in Boston on July 15, 1899. His interment was in Forest Hills Cemetery in West Roxbury.

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Henry L. Pierce
    Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
    from Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district

    March 4, 1877 – March 28, 1878
    Succeeded by
    Benjamin Dean
    Preceded by
    Benjamin Dean
    Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
    from Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district

    March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881
    Succeeded by
    Ambrose Ranney
    Legal offices
    Preceded by
    Seth Ames
    Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
    February 21, 1881 September 4, 1890
    Succeeded by
    James Madison Morton
    Preceded by
    Marcus Morton
    Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
    September 4, 1890 July 15, 1899
    Succeeded by
    Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
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