Henry A. Lyons

For other people named Henry Lyons, see Henry Lyons (disambiguation).
Henry A. Lyons
2nd Chief Justice of California
In office
1850–1852
Preceded by Serranus Clinton Hastings
Succeeded by Hugh Murray

Henry A. Lyons (October 5, 1809 in Philadelphia, PA – July 27, 1872 in San Francisco) was the 2nd Chief Justice of California, appointed to that office by the California State Legislature.

Lyons was one of five sons and a daughter born to Solomon and Sarah (also known as Rebecca) Lyons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Around 1834, Lyons' older brother Zaligman Selwin became an attorney and moved to Jackson, Louisiana. Lyons then follows and settled in St. Francisville.[1]

Background

Lyons married Eliza Pirrie in 1840.[2] Pirrie was already twice a widow and had a boy, Robert Hillard Jr, from her first husband Robert Hillard, and two children (Isabelle and James Pirrie Bowman) with her second husband William Robert Bowman.[2] Together with Lyons, they had three daughters, Lucy Pirrie, Cora August and Eliza (who passed in childhood in 1853).[2] In 1851, Lyon's wife passed as the age of 46.[3]

Career in California

Lyons left his family to travel to California during the Gold Rush, ultimately settling in the Sonora area.[2] Being an experienced attorney, he came in second for the votes by the California Legislature for the new California Supreme Court (behind Justice Serranus Clinton Hastings).[2][4] Hastings had a two-year ending in 1852, and Lyons then took over as Chief Justice. Lyons resigned as Chief on March 31, 1852, after serving after three months.[2][5] Lyons wrote a total of eleven opinions during his term on the Court, nine as an associate justice and two as Chief.[2] After his term, Lyons did not return to practicing law and instead focused on his business interests in San Francisco.[2]

Lyons died on July 27, 1872 in San Francisco.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, J. Edward (1963). History of the Supreme Court Justices of California, 1900-1950, Volume 1 (PDF). Bender-Moss. p. 31.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Johnson, J. Edward (1963). History of the Supreme Court Justices of California, 1900-1950, Volume 1 (PDF). Bender-Moss. p. 32.
  3. ↑ Johnson, J. Edward (1963). History of the Supreme Court Justices of California, 1900-1950, Volume 1 (PDF). Bender-Moss. p. 33.
  4. ↑ Shuck, Oscar T. (1901). History of the Bench and Bar of California (PDF). The Commercial Printing House. p. 349.
  5. ↑ Shuck, Oscar T. (1901). History of the Bench and Bar of California (PDF). The Commercial Printing House. p. 350.
  6. ↑ Shuck, Oscar T. (1901). History of the Bench and Bar of California (PDF). The Commercial Printing House. p. 354.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Serranus Clinton Hastings		 Chief Justice of California
January 1, 1852 – March 31, 1852 		Succeeded by
Hugh C. Murray
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