Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 04.pdf/16

 The

Vol. IV.

No. i.

Green

BOSTON.

Bag.

January, 1892.

CALEB CUSHING. By William C. Todd. ONE of the most eminent men of his time for his long and distinguished career as a jurist, statesman, and diplomatist, and for the versatility of his gifts and his great learning, was Caleb dishing. Caleb dishing was born in Salisbury, Mass., just over the river from Newburyport, Jan. 17, 1800. His first ancestor in America was Mathew Cushing, who came from Hingham, Eng., in 1638, and settled in Hingham, Mass. His father was John N. dish ing, who removed to Newburyport in 1802, and became one of the most successful ship masters and merchants of that place. Young Cushing was prepared for college by Michael Walsh, author of a noted arithmetic, and was graduated from Harvard in 181 7. Mr. George B. Emerson, a classmate, said that though one ( f the youngest, he was the most distinguished member of a class including many who in after years became celebrated. For two years next succeeding his gradu ation he was employed at Harvard as a tutor in mathematics and natural philosophy, — a position given only to the best scholars. While there he became specially interested in plants and minerals, and took many long walks to gather them, and formed, it is said, the best collection of Essex County specimens then in existence. He spent hours, too, in the evening studying the con stellations. In 18 19 he gave a poem before the Harvard chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Resigning his place as tutor, he studied law with Hon. Ebenezer Moseley, of New buryport, and at the Harvard Law School, 1

and on his admission to the bar opened an office at Newburyport. In 1823 he mar ried Caroline Elizabeth, daughter of Judge Samuel S. Wilde, a most accomplished lady, author of " Letters Descriptive of Public Monuments, Scenery, and Manners in France and Spain," which was very favorably reviewed by Alexander Everett in the " North American Review." She died in 1832, and he never married again. They were childless. Mr. Cushing at once became prominent in his profession, though the Essex County Bar at that time had a galaxy of able law yers, among whom was Rufus Choate, of the same age, born within a dozen miles of him, who perhaps never had his equal in the United States as a jury lawyer. By contact with these men his powers were stimulated and sharpened. At the same time he entered warmly into the political questions of the day, made fre quent contributions to the literary peri odicals and the newspapers, and in 1826 published a history of Newburyport. He began life with that indomitable energy and industry which he ever maintained. In 1825 Mr. Cushing was chosen rep resentative to the Massachusetts Legis lature, and in 1826 was elected State Sena tor, and in both positions was prominent. Too close application, however, had impaired his health, and in 1829 he visited Europe with his wife and remained there two years. Much of this time he spent in Spain, of which country he made a special study, and in whose language he acquired