William Fell Giles (April 8, 1807 – March 21, 1879) was a United States representative from Maryland and later a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
William Fell Giles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland | |
| In office July 18, 1853 – March 21, 1879 | |
| Appointed by | Franklin Pierce |
| Preceded by | John Glenn |
| Succeeded by | Thomas John Morris |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 4th district | |
| In office March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | |
| Preceded by | John P. Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Robert Milligan McLane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Fell Giles April 8, 1807 Harford County, Maryland |
| Died | March 21, 1879 (aged 71) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Resting place | Green Mount Cemetery Baltimore, Maryland |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | read law |
Education and career edit
Born on April 8, 1807, in Harford County, Maryland,[1] Giles attended a private academy and the Bel Air Academy,[2] then read law in 1829.[1] Giles was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Baltimore, Maryland from 1829 to 1837, in 1839, from 1841 to 1844, and from 1847 to 1853.[1] He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1838 and 1840.[1]
Other service edit
Giles was an officer of the American Colonization Society for more than thirty years, and for more than twenty years one of the commissioners of the State of Maryland supervising the emigration of free blacks to Liberia.[2]
Congressional service edit
Giles was elected as a Democrat from Maryland's 4th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 29th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1847.[2] He declined to be a candidate for renomination.[2]
Federal judicial service edit
Giles received a recess appointment from President Franklin Pierce on July 18, 1853, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland vacated by Judge John Glenn.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Pierce on December 19, 1853.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 11, 1854, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on March 21, 1879, due to his death in Baltimore.[1] He was interred in Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.[2]
Notable case edit
Giles issued the original writ of habeas corpus in Ex parte Merryman.[3]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h William Fell Giles at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ a b c d e United States Congress. "William F. Giles (id: G000184)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ Benson John Lossing (1866), Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War, 1997 reprint, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, Vol. I, Ch. XVIII, "The Capital Secured—Maryland Secessionists Subdued—Contributions by the People", pp. 449-450.
Sources edit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- United States Congress. "William F. Giles (id: G000184)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- William Fell Giles at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
Further reading edit
- William H. Rehnquist (1998), All the Laws but One: Civil Liberties in Wartime, New York: Morrow, ISBN 978-0-679-44661-3.