Kent, James, 1763-1847

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These maps were compiled over a period of years by Chancellor Kent, a well-known American jurist who was a dominant state supreme court judge in New York throughout the Federalist era. The extensive manuscript annotations are in his hand. These notes are often dated, some as early as the 1820s and others as late as 1840. It is unclear what prompted Kent to assemble this volume, but a possible reason was his interest in missionary activities, often referred to in the notes, which display an intimate knowledge of the literature of Pacific exploration.

From the description of Pacific maps taken from various published sources including Cook, Vancouver, etc. and including maps of Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, and other Pacific islands, 1820-1840. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122444995

Kent graduated from Yale in 1781 and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1785. He practiced law in Poughkeepsie (1785-1793) and in New York City from 1793. He served as Judge of the New York Supreme Court (1798-1814) and as Chancellor of the New York Court of Chancery (1814-1823.)

From the description of Letters, 1833-1843. (Harvard Law School Library). WorldCat record id: 234339379

Jurist, Chancellor of New York Court of Chancery, first Professor of Law at Columbia College.

From the description of [Letter] 1836 October 25, New York to Charles S. Henry, Savannah, Georgia [manuscript] / James Kent. 1836. (Columbia University Law School, Diamond Law Library). WorldCat record id: 183929106

American jurist.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Poughkeepsie?, to Richard Varick in New York, 1786 Feb. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270489469

From the description of Autograph letter signed : New York, N.Y., to J. Fenimore Cooper, 1834 Mar. 25. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270489071

Jurist and legal commentator.

From the description of James Kent papers, 1779-1854 (bulk 1798-1847). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71254705

James Kent was a justice of the New York Supreme Court and Chancellor of New York 1814-1823.

Samuel Jones was Chancellor of New York 1826-1828 and Chief Justice of the New York City Superior Court 1828-1847.

From the description of James Kent autograph notes signed to Samuel Jones. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 780251799

Jurist and legal commentator. Kent began his legal career in 1781 as a practicing attorney in Poughkeepsie. In 1793, he moved his practice to New York City where he also assumed the appointment as the first professor of law at Columbia College. He remained there until 1798, when then Governor John Jay appointed Kent to a judgeship on the New York State Supreme Court. He became chief justice of the court in 1804 and Chancellor of the New York State Court of Chancery.

Forced to retire as Chancellor in 1824, he accepted reappointment to the law professorship at Columbia. Here, he devoted much time to writing the Commentaries on American Law which became one of the foremost legal treatices.

Kent was also involved in politics, having served three terms in the New York State Assembly during the 1790's. His affiliation was at first with the Federalist Party, and after its demise he joined the Whig Party.

From the description of Collection, 1785-1845. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122618045

Biographical Note

  • 1763, July 31: Born, southeastern New York (now Putnam County)
  • 1781: B.A., Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
  • 1781 - 1784 : Apprenticed to law office of Egbert Benson, New York attorney general, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
  • 1784: M.A., Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
  • 1785: Admitted to New York bar Married Elizabeth Bailey
  • 1785 - 1793 : Practiced law in partnership with Gilbert Livingston, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
  • 1786: Commissioned paymaster in the New York state militia
  • 1790 - 1794 : Member, New York assembly
  • 1794 - 1798 : Professor of law, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
  • 1796 - 1798 : Member, New York assembly
  • 1797 - 1798 : Recorder, New York, N.Y.
  • 1798: Appointed to New York supreme court
  • 1799 - 1823 : Resided in Albany, N.Y.
  • 1804: Appointed chief justice, New York supreme court
  • 1814: Appointed chancellor, New York court of chancery
  • 1823: Forced by provision in state constitution to retire as chancellor of New York court of chancery
  • 1824 - 1826 : Professor of law, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
  • 1828: President, New-York Historical Society
  • 1847, Dec. 12: Died, New York, N.Y.

From the guide to the James Kent Papers, 1779-1854, (bulk 1798-1847), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Lewis, Ellis, 1798-1871. Papers, 1810-1870. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. [Letter] 1834 Apr. 23, New York [to] I.A. Briggs, Cleveland, Ohio [manusript] / James Kent. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
referencedIn Pirtle family. Pirtle-Rogers family papers, 1797-1875. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Ticknor, Benajah, 1788-1858. Papers, 1818-1852 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Kent, William, 1858-1910. William Kent papers, 1898-1908. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Galloway-Maxcy-Markoe Families Papers, 1654-1888, (bulk 1750-1860) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Ticknor, Benajah, 1788-1858. Benajah Ticknor papers, 1818-1852 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Albert Stephens Borgman autograph collection, 1600-1950. Houghton Library
referencedIn George Jacob Abbot papers, 1811-1901 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Letter, 1844 April 18, New York, to Joel Parker, Keene, New Hampshire. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Ogden, Aaron, 1756-1839. [Bill of complaint in the case of Ogden vs. Gibbons], 1818 October 20 [Elizabeth Town, N.J.?], to James Kent, Albany, N.Y. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Ticknor, Benajah, 1788-1858. Benajah Ticknor papers, 1818-1852. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Channing, William Ellery, 1780-1842. Letter [n.d., n.p.], to George Ticknor, Park Place. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. The papers of James Kent [microform]. Ohio Northern University, Taggart Law Library
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Autograph note signed : n.p., 1805 Feb. 5. Texas Christian University
referencedIn George Jacob Abbot papers, 1811-1901 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Letters, 1833-1843. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Justice James Kent's People v. Croswell papers, 1804-1805 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Gamage, John. Certificate of discharge of a mortgage signed by John Gamage, physician, and certification signed by James Kent, as Master in Chancery, 19 October 1796. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn William Kent papers, 1898-1908 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Greenleaf, Simon. Simon Greenleaf Papers. 1792-1853. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Hudson, David, 1782-1860. Papers, 1813-1860. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. Correspondence, 1829-1874 Houghton Library
referencedIn New-York Athenæum. Secretary's book, 1824 June-1829 Mar. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Minor, John B. (John Barbee), 1813-1895. Letter, U.Va., to Seymour H. Ranson, Brooklyn, N.Y. [manuscript] 1893 Feb. 21. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Carter, Nathaniel H. (Nathaniel Hazeltine), 1787-1830. Letter to Daniel Webster [manuscript], 1823 April 26. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Livingston, Gilbert, 1742-1806. Gilbert Livingston papers, 1711-1862, bulk (1760-1806). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Jones family papers, 1695-1876 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Letter, 1824 September 25, New York, to George Ticknor, Boston. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Hoar, George Frisbie. 1826-1904. Autograph collection, 1598-1945 Houghton Library
creatorOf Ogden, Aaron, 1756-1839. Petition against Thomas Gibbons, 1819 November 15 [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Kent family. Kent family papers, 1785-1901. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Letter, 1846, December 4, New York, to Messrs. Angell and Ames. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. James Kent autograph notes signed to Samuel Jones. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn First Company of the Great Western Turnpike Road. Subscription list, 1799 Mar. 30-1802 Aug. 15. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Letter, 1834 June 9, New York, to Daniel Webster, Washington. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Fuller, B. A. G., 1879-1956. Autograph collection, 1620-1920 Houghton Library
creatorOf Jones family papers, 1695-1876. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Ticknor, Benajah, 1788-1858. Benajah Ticknor papers, 1818-1852 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Kent Family Papers, 1785-1901. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Letter : New York, to William L. Stone, n.p., 1841 Apr. 15. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Letter, December 13, New York, to Daniel Webster, Washington. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Gratz, Simon. Alphabetical collection, 1677-1910. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Greenleaf, Simon, 1783-1853. Papers, 1792-1853. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Gaines, Edmund Pendleton, 1777-1849. Letter : to Chancellor James Kent / by Edmund Pendleton Gaines, 1847 Jan 16. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Letter, 1837 Jan. 10, New York, to Daniel Webster. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Galloway-Maxcy-Markoe Families Papers, 1654-1888, (bulk 1750-1860) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847,. Pacific maps taken from various published sources including Cook, Vancouver, etc. and including maps of Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, and other Pacific islands, 1820-1840. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. Papers, 1800-1900 (bulk 1824-1852) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Price, William M. Letter : Albany, to James Clapp, 1812 Apr. 17. Boston College, Law Library
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. [Letter] 1836 October 25, New York to Charles S. Henry, Savannah, Georgia [manuscript] / James Kent. Columbia University Law School, Diamond Law Library, Arthur W. Diamond Law Library, Columbia Law School
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Papers, 1779-1854, (bulk 1798-1847) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Autograph letters signed (6, one a copy) : Albany and New York, to Henry Wheaton, 1817 Dec. 15-1834 June 11. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Collection, 1785-1845. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844. Papers, 1663-1844 (bulk 1781-1844) Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Autograph letter signed : New York, N.Y., to J. Fenimore Cooper, 1834 Mar. 25. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Meyers, Henry, 1895-1952. Henry Meyers correspondence, 1777-1940. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Story, Joseph, 1779-1845. Papers, 1797-1857. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Justice James Kent's People v. Croswell papers, 1804-1805. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Papers, 1779-1854, (bulk 1798-1847) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf New York (State). Supreme Court. Writ of certiorari, 1813. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Ticknor, Benajah, 1788-1858. Papers, 1818-1852 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Gilbert Livingston papers, 1711-1862, 1760-1806 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. Papers, 1800-1900 (bulk 1824-1852) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Carey, Lea & Blanchard. Correspondence, 1823-1849. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York (New York, N.Y.). Minutes, 1814 Jan. 13-1834 Nov. 28. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Kent, James, 1763-1847. Autograph letter signed : Poughkeepsie?, to Richard Varick in New York, 1786 Feb. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature. Letter to James Kent, Chief Justice, concerning Rochester patent of 1703, 1811. New York State Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abbot, George Jacob, 1812-1879. person
correspondedWith Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848 person
associatedWith Angell & Ames. corporateBody
correspondedWith Bailey, Theodorus, 1805-1877 person
associatedWith Baldwin, Simeon, 1761-1851. person
correspondedWith Bancroft, George, 1800-1891 person
correspondedWith Biddle, Nicholas, 1786-1844 person
associatedWith Borgman, Albert Stephens, 1890-1954 person
associatedWith Briggs, I. A. person
associatedWith Carey, Lea & Blanchard. corporateBody
correspondedWith Carroll, William, 1788-1844 person
associatedWith Carter, Nathaniel H. (Nathaniel Hazeltine), 1787-1830. person
associatedWith Channing, William Ellery, 1780-1842. person
associatedWith Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. person
associatedWith Clinton, DeWitt, 1769-1828. person
associatedWith Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851, person
associatedWith Croswell, Harry, 1778-1858. person
correspondedWith Daggett, David, 1764-1851 person
associatedWith Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844. person
correspondedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
associatedWith First Company of the Great Western Turnpike Road. corporateBody
associatedWith Fuller, B. A. G. (Benjamin Apthorp Gould), 1879-1956 person
associatedWith Gaines, Edmund Pendleton, 1777-1849. person
correspondedWith Galloway family family
associatedWith Gamage, John. person
associatedWith Genet, Edmond Charles, 1763-1824. person
associatedWith Gratz, Simon. person
associatedWith Greenleaf, Simon, 1783-1853. person
associatedWith Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804. person
correspondedWith Hamilton, Elizabeth Schuyler, 1757-1854 person
associatedWith Henry, Charles S. person
associatedWith Hillhouse, James, 1754-1832. person
associatedWith Hoar, George Frisbie, 1826-1904 person
associatedWith Hudson, David, 1782-1860. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
correspondedWith Johnson, William, 1771-1834 person
associatedWith Jones family family
associatedWith Jones family. family
correspondedWith Jones, Samuel, 1770-1853 person
correspondedWith Kent, Elizabeth person
correspondedWith Kent, Elizabeth person
associatedWith Kent family. family
associatedWith Kent family. family
associatedWith Kent family. family
associatedWith Kent family. family
correspondedWith Kent, Moss person
associatedWith Kent, Moss, Jr. person
correspondedWith Kent, William person
correspondedWith Kent, William person
associatedWith Kent, William, 1858-1910. person
associatedWith Lewis, Ellis, 1798-1871. person
associatedWith Library of Congress. Manuscript Division. corporateBody
correspondedWith Lieber, Francis, 1800-1872 person
associatedWith Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Livingston and Kent. corporateBody
associatedWith Livingston and Kent (law firm) corporateBody
associatedWith Livingston and Thompson. corporateBody
associatedWith Livingston and Thompson (law firm) corporateBody
associatedWith Livingston, Gilbert, 1690-1746 person
associatedWith Livingston, Gilbert, 1742-1806. person
associatedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836. person
correspondedWith Markoe family family
correspondedWith Maxcy family family
associatedWith Meyers, Henry, 1895-1952. person
associatedWith Minor, John B. (John Barbee), 1813-1895. person
associatedWith New-York Athenæum. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State) Constitutional Convention, 1821. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Court of Chancery corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Militia. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Supreme Court. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature. corporateBody
associatedWith Ogden, Aaron, 1756-1839. person
associatedWith Parker, Joel, 1795-1875. person
associatedWith Price, William M. person
associatedWith Quinn, Edmond T. (Edmond Thomas), 1868-1929. person
correspondedWith Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872 person
correspondedWith Silliman, Benjamin, 1779-1864 person
associatedWith Smith, Richard, fl. 1840, person
associatedWith Spencer, Ambrose, 1765-1848. person
associatedWith Stone, William L. (William Leete), 1792-1844. person
associatedWith Story, Joseph, 1779-1845. person
correspondedWith Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Ticknor, Benajah, 1788-1858. person
associatedWith Ticknor, George, 1791-1871. person
associatedWith Tompkins, Daniel D., 1774-1825. person
associatedWith Varick, Richard, 1753-1831, person
associatedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. person
associatedWith Wheaton, Henry, 1785-1848, person
correspondedWith Wirt, William, 1772-1834 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Ohio
United States
New York (State)
United States
United States
New York (State)
United States
United States
New York (State)
Pacific Ocean
New York (State)
Wyoming Valley (Pa.)
Subject
Constitutional history
Courts
Courts
Debtor and creditor
Discoveries in geography
Distribution of decedents' estates
Equity pleading and procedure
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Judges
Maritime law
Libel and slander
Libel and slander
Manuscripts, American
Oneida Indians
Oneida Indians
Partition of decedents' estates
Practice of law
Practice of law
Voyages and travels
Occupation
Educators
Judges
Jurists
Lawyers
Activity

Person

Birth 1763-07-31

Death 1847-12-12

Americans

English

Information

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