Luther Stearns Cushing

Born in 1803, Luther Stearns Cushing was an American lawyer, judge, and legal writer from Massachusetts. He studied at Harvard and built a career in law and public service, but he is remembered most for his clear writing on legislative and parliamentary practice.

Cushing’s best-known book, Manual of Parliamentary Practice, became a widely used guide to rules of order in the United States. By explaining procedure in a practical, organized way, he influenced how assemblies, associations, and public bodies handled debate, motions, and decision-making.

He died in 1856, but his name remained closely linked with parliamentary law for decades afterward. For listeners interested in legal history or the workings of public institutions, his life offers a window into the development of American civic procedure.