John A. Corwin | |
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Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court | |
In office February 9, 1852 – October 28, 1854 |
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Preceded by | new seat |
Succeeded by | Robert B. Warden |
Personal details | |
Born |
Urbana, Ohio |
October 26, 1818
Died | August 11, 1863 Urbana, Ohio |
(aged 44)
Resting place | Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Mary Vance |
Children | one |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | Union Army |
Years of service | 1861 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 13th Ohio Infantry |
John A. Corwin was a Democratic politician and jurist from Ohio, United States. He was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court and ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives.
Corwin was born in Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio on October 26, 1818. His parents were Moses B. and Margaret Corwin. Moses Corwin was the first lawyer in Champaign County, and was the cousin of Thomas Corwin, Governor, Senator and Secretary of the Treasury.
After he finished school, Corwin ran a newspaper called the Rattler in about 1837, and studied law under his father. He was admitted to the bar at age 21, and established a law practice with his father in Urbana. They had clients throughout central Ohio, and John A. became a highly regarded criminal defense attorney. He started out like his famous relatives as a Whig, but switched to the Democratic Party in about 1840.
Moses Corwin had been in the Ohio House of Representatives, and ran for Ohio's 4th congressional district as the Whig nominee in 1848. John A. decided to run as a Democrat against his father, and they had debates before immense crowds throughout the district. Moses won in the solidly Whig district. In 1850, John A. challenged Whig Benjamin Stanton in the same district, and again lost convincingly.
In 1851, Ohio adopted a new constitution which made seats on the Ohio Supreme Court elective. The first election was in October, 1851. Corwin was nominated by the Democrats, and the Democrats won all five seats. The new court was seated February 9, 1852, and the judges drew lots for length of their first term, so re-elections would be staggered. Corwin drew a four-year term. In 1854, he challenged George E. Pugh for the Democratic nomination for United States Senate, but lost. He did not serve his whole term, but resigned October 28, 1854.