author
William Maxwell Evarts
1818–1901
A brilliant courtroom advocate and polished public speaker, he stood at the center of some of the biggest legal and political battles of 19th-century America. His career stretched from the Andrew Johnson impeachment trial to the Senate and the State Department, making him one of the era's most recognizable lawyers and statesmen.
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About the author
Born in Boston on February 6, 1818, William Maxwell Evarts studied at Yale and Harvard before building a major law career in New York City. He earned a reputation for sharp argument, wide learning, and remarkable skill in high-profile public cases.
Evarts served in several important government roles during and after the Civil War era. He was Attorney General of the United States in 1868–1869, later Secretary of State under President Rutherford B. Hayes from 1877 to 1881, and then a U.S. senator from New York. He was also known for representing Andrew Johnson during the impeachment trial and for helping argue the American case in the Alabama arbitration with Britain.
Remembered as one of the leading advocates of his generation, Evarts combined legal brilliance with a talent for public life. He died in New York City on February 28, 1901, leaving behind a long record of service in law, diplomacy, and national politics.