Augustus Brevoort Woodward (born November 1774, died July 12, 1827) was the first Chief Justice of the Michigan Territory. Year 1774 ( MDCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English Michigan Territory was an Organized territory of the United States in the early 19th century between June 30, 1805 and January 26 In that position, he played a prominent role in the planning and reconstruction of Detroit following a devastating fire.
Woodward never married. His biographer, Arthur M. Woodford, describes Woodward as a prototype of Washington Irving’s Ichabod Crane. Washington Irving (April 3 1783 – November 28 1859 was an American Author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th Ichabod Crane is a Fictional character in Washington Irving 's short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, first published in 1820 He stood six feet three or four inches tall, thin, sallow, and stooped. His long, narrow face was dominated by a big nose. His only outward vestage of vanity was a generous crop of thick, black, hair. His contemporaries commented on his slovenliness.
While in Washington, he was described as "a man of middle age, a hardened bachelor who wore nut-brown clothing . . . he slept in his office which was never swept . . . and was eccentric and erratic. His friends were few and his practice was so small that he hardly made a living. "
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Early years
He was born in New York City in 1774 and was baptized Elias Brevoort Woodward on November 6 in a Reformed Dutch Church. The City of New York Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with The Reformed Church in America (RCA is a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination that was formerly a part of the Dutch Reformed He was the eldest child of New York merchant, John Woodward, who fought in the American Revolutionary War and lost his fortune as a result of the war, and Ann Silvester Woodward, the daughter of Francis Silvester, a cooper, and the niece of Ann Silvester, the wife of Elias Brevoort, a leading pre-Revolutionary resident of Manhattan with a substantial estate and who was Woodward's namesake. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The family moved to Philadelphia by 1796. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə As a young adult, Woodward chose to be called "Augustus", rather than Elias.
He entered Columbia College at the age of fifteen, and graduated with a B.A. in 1793. History Columbia College was founded as King’s College by royal charter of King George II of England in the After graduation, he took a job in Philadelphia as a clerk in the U.S. Treasury Department. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet department and the Treasury of the United States government. By 1795, he had moved to Rockbridge County, Virginia, where he taught school and studied law. Rockbridge County is a county located in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia. While there, he met Thomas Jefferson at Monticello and the two became close friends. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence Monticello (mɒntəˈtʃɛloʊ located near Charlottesville, Virginia, was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States
Not long after Jefferson became Vice President of the United States, Woodward moved to Georgetown, Washington, D.C. and became a lawyer in the district. The Vice President of the United States is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death Georgetown is a Neighborhood located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington D A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person While there, Woodward was introduced to Pierre Charles L'Enfant. Woodward took notes of the layout for the United States' new capitol, even pasting a copy of the layout into the cover of his notebook. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the He had been present at the laying of the cornerstone of the District in 1792. His uncle and namesake, left him an inheritance of 150 English pounds, and with L'Enfant's city plan as a guide, Woodward acquired several land parcels for development. He moved to nearby Alexandria (then within the boundaries of the District of Columbia) and practiced law, one of the first 11 attorneys admitted at the first session of the new court of the District. Alexandria is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D
Between 1801 and 1808 Woodward published at least eight essay pamphlets entitled Considerations on the Government of the Territory of Columbia under the pen name "Epaminondas". A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a Pseudonym adopted by an Author or their publishers to conceal their identity Epaminondas ( Greek:) (ca 418 BC&ndash362 BC was a Theban General and statesman of the 4th century BC who transformed the Ancient Greek Woodward urged the passage of a constitutional amendment to give these citizens the right to vote for President of the United States and Vice-President and their own senators and representatives. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The Vice President of the United States is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate.
Michigan Territory
Now President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson appointed Woodward on March 3, 1805 as the Michigan Territory's first Chief Justice. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1805 ( MDCCCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Michigan Territory was an Organized territory of the United States in the early 19th century between June 30, 1805 and January 26 The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English Woodward arrived in Detroit on June 30, 1805, with the city in ruins from the devastating June 11, 1805 fire. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1805 ( MDCCCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 1805 ( MDCCCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Few buildings were left standing.
Woodward, with Governor William Hull and associate Justices John Griffin and Frederick Bates, possessed all the legislative power in the Territory. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government William Hull ( June 24, 1753 &ndash November 29, 1825) was an American Soldier and Politician. John Griffin (born 1774 or 1779 – death unknown was an American Jurist. Frederick Bates ( June 23, 1777 - August 4, 1825) brother of Edward Bates and James Woodson Bates, was an American Woodward and Griffin, along with the current Governor and a third judge, would hold this power from 1805 until the institution of a legislature in 1824. Woodward and Hull bickered almost constantly.
Woodward and Hull planned to rebuild Detroit, which was the capital of the Territory. L'Enfant's layout for Washington, D.C. was the model on which they based their work (thanks to Woodward's notebook). Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Woodward's plan attempted to live up to the new city motto, Speramus Meliora, Resurgit Cineribus (“We hope for better days, it will rise again from the ashes”). For the first time in Detroit's history, attention shifted fully from its river to its roads. Woodward Avenue in Detroit, originally called Court House Avenue and other names, was popularly named for Woodward's efforts in rebuilding. M-1, more commonly known as Woodward Avenue, is a north-south state trunkline in the U Woodward, somewhat tongue in cheek, claimed the road's name as nothing more than the fact that the road went toward the wooded area to the northwest of the city.
Woodward proposed a system of hexagonal street blocks, with the Grand Circus at its center. Wide avenues, alternatively 200 feet and 120 feet, would emanate from large circular plazas like spokes from the hub of a wheel. As the city grew these would spread in all directions from the banks of the Detroit River. The Detroit River is a river in the Great Lakes system about 32 miles (51 km long and 0 When Woodward presented his proposal, Detroit had fewer than 1,000 residents. The plan was abandoned after only 11 years, but not before some elements had been implemented. Most prominent of these are the five main "spokes" of Woodward, Michigan, Gratiot, Grand River and Jefferson Avenues. M-1, more commonly known as Woodward Avenue, is a north-south state trunkline in the U M-3 is a north-south State highway in the US state of Michigan in the Detroit metropolitan area Grand River Avenue is one of the principal pre- Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Jefferson Avenue is a scenic road along the eastern part of the Detroit metropolitan area in the U
During the War of 1812, Governor (now Brigadier General) Hull surrendered Detroit to the British without a shot being fired (see: Battle of Detroit). The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies Brigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For the 1763 action in Pontiac's Rebellion see the Siege of Fort Detroit The Siege of Detroit, also known as the Surrender of Detroit Woodward stayed (Hull and Justices Bates and Griffin left) and maintained his status in Detroit during the British occupation. Belligerent military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The British offered him the office of Secretary of the Territory, but he declined the offer. Eventually Woodward became a problem for the British. He was asked to leave the territory and granted safe passage to New York. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous
Later years
Considered a hero on his return to Washington D. C. , Woodward soon focused himself on science (a life-long interest) and the establishment of the University of Michigan along similar themes to the University of Virginia, founded by Woodward's friend Thomas Jefferson. The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research The University of Virginia (also called UVa, UVA, Mr Jefferson's University, or The University) is a highly selective public research
It has been said that Woodward was among the first to recognize the coming of the scientific age. In 1816, he published his seminal work, A System of Universal Science. Year 1816 ( MDCCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
With Reverend John Montieth and Father Gabriel Richard, Woodward drafted a charter for an institution he called the Catholepistemiad or the University of Michigania. Father Gabriel Richard ( October 15, 1767 – September 13, 1832) was a French Roman Catholic Priest who On August 26, 1817 the Governor and Judges of the Michigan Territory signed the university act into law. Events 1071 - Battle of Manzikert: The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Army at Manzikert. Year 1817 ( MDCCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This institution became the University of Michigan. The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research It was ahead of its time. No mere charter, it was a detailed blueprint for the organization of a university.
Woodward was also a Freemason.
One of Woodward's legacies is the Woodward Code: a series of statutes serving as the basis of the Territorial Supreme Court legal procedures.
August 26, 1824 saw Woodward's return to the judiciary, as President James Monroe appointed him to a judgeship in the new Territory of Florida. Events 1071 - Battle of Manzikert: The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Army at Manzikert. Year 1824 ( MDCCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year James Monroe (April 28 1758 – July 4 1831 was the fifth President of the United States (1817–1825 The Florida Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States from 1822 to 1845. Woodward served until his death July 12, 1827 at the age of fifty-two. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common
He is commemorated in a so-called "Michigan Legal Milestones" erected by the State Bar of Michigan. The State Bar of Michigan is an organization of lawyers in the State of Michigan. [1]
Notes
Woodward was a fervent abolitionist. Abolitionism was a political movement of the 18th and 19th century which sought to make Slavery illegal particularly in the United States and British West Indies He advocated additional protection for the Territory from Indians. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States
In 1811, one Whitmore Knaggs confronted Woodward at a tea party. The two exchanged blows. Knaggs left bloodied, and Woodward returned to the tea party. Knaggs was prosecuted and convicted in Woodward's court for the altercation. Yet Woodward later defended Knaggs against the British in court for parole violations.
References
External links
- A Portrait of Augustus B. Woodward
- Woodward Avenue, Detroit's grand old 'Main Street'
- Judge Augustus Woodward
- AUGUSTUS B. WOODWARD, 1st Territorial Justice
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