John LAW, Congress, IN (1796-1873)

LAW, John, (son of Lyman Law and grandson of Richard Law and Amasa Learned), a Representative from Indiana; born in New London, Conn., October 28, 1796; pursued classical studies and was graduated from Yale College in 1814; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1817 and commenced practice in Vincennes, Ind.; prosecuting attorney 1818-1820; member of the State house of representatives in 1824 and 1825; again prosecuting attorney 1825-1828; judge of the seventh judicial circuit 1830 and 1831; receiver of the land office at Vincennes 1838-1842; again served as judge from 1844 to 1850, when he resigned; moved to Evansville, Ind., in 1851; invested in large tracts of land; was an author; appointed by President Pierce judge of the court of land claims and served from 1855 to 1857; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses (March 4, 1861-March 3, 1865); was not a candidate for renomination in 1864; resumed the practice of law; died in Evansville, Ind., on October 7, 1873; interment in Greenlawn Cemetery, Vincennes, Ind.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present