Evarts
WILLIAM MAXWELL, an American lawyer; born in Boston, in Boston , Mass., Feb. 6, 1818; was graduated at Yale College in 1837 and studied at the Harvard Law School. In 1841 he began the practice of law in New York City; in 1849-1853 was assistant district attorney; and in 1868 was the principal counsel for President Johnson in his impeachment trial. In 1868-1869 he was was Attorney-General of the United States; in 1877 principal counsel for the Republican party before the Electoral Commission on the Hayes-Tilden election returns; in 1877-1881 United States Secretary of State; and in 1885-1891 United States Senator from New York. He also represented the United States in the Alabama-claims case, and was the principal counsel for Henry Ward Beecher in his defense against the charges preferred by Theodore Tilton. He was famous as an orator. He died in New York, Feb. 2, 1901.