Simon Greenleaf

Born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1783, he grew up in what is now Maine, studied law, and built his career as a lawyer, reporter of decisions, and judge before moving into academic life. He is best remembered as a careful, methodical legal thinker whose writing helped organize American law for students and practitioners.

In 1833, he joined Harvard Law School at the invitation of Justice Joseph Story. After Story’s death, he carried much of the school’s teaching load and played an important role in its development during the mid-19th century.

His best-known work, A Treatise on the Law of Evidence, became highly influential and was long treated as a standard authority. He also wrote on real property and legal method, and his name still comes up whenever the early history of American legal education is discussed.