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Charles Evans Hughes Sr.Lawyer and Republican politician, New York State Representative
Date of Birth: 11.04.1862
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes was a lawyer and Republican politician who represented the state of New York. He was born on April 11, 1862, in Glens Falls, New York. After graduating from Madison College (now known as Colgate University), Hughes attended Brown University. In 1884, he graduated from Columbia Law School and began practicing law privately.
Political Career
Hughes gained recognition in New York after successfully exposing and proving abuses in the New York City utilities industry during a major case. This helped him win an elected position in 1906, defeating William Randolph Hearst, and becoming the thirty-sixth Governor of New York.
In 1908, Hughes declined an offer from William Howard Taft to be his vice-presidential running mate. However, in October 1910, Taft appointed Hughes as a member of the Supreme Court. Hughes resigned from the Supreme Court on June 16, 1916, to run as the Republican candidate in the presidential election. He lost to Woodrow Wilson.
After his unsuccessful presidential bid, Hughes returned to private practice but later served in the government as the United States Secretary of State under President Warren Harding. In 1930, President Herbert Hoover appointed Hughes as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a position he held until 1941.
Legacy and Contributions
As Chief Justice, Hughes actively opposed President Franklin Roosevelt's attempts to reorganize the functions and structure of the Supreme Court. Under Hughes' leadership, the Supreme Court moved from its old headquarters in the Capitol to a newly constructed Supreme Court building, a project initially approved during William Taft's presidency.
During his tenure, Hughes wrote twice as many constitutional opinions as any other Supreme Court Justice before him. His opinions were known for their thoughtfulness and reasonableness, earning him a reputation as a true advocate for justice.
Hughes was praised for his intellectual abilities, talent for public interaction, and exceptional memory. He was regarded as a noble and kind lawyer, which was uncommon for someone in such a high position of power.
Charles Evans Hughes passed away on August 27, 1948, in Osterville, Massachusetts. Today, his New York law practice is known as "Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP."
