Walbridge A. Field

Walbridge Abner Field
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1877 – March 28, 1878
Preceded by	Henry L. Pierce
Succeeded by	Benjamin Dean
In office March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881
Preceded by	Benjamin Dean
Succeeded by	Ambrose Ranney
Boston School Committee
In office 1863–1864
Boston Common Council (wards 5 and 8)
In office 1865–1867
Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
In office February 21, 1881 – September 4, 1890
Appointed by	John Davis Long
Preceded by	Seth Ames
Succeeded by	James Madison Morton
12th Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
In office September 4, 1890 – July 15, 1899
Appointed by	John Quincy Adams Brackett
Preceded by	Marcus Morton
Succeeded by	Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Personal details
Born	April 26, 1833 Springfield, Vermont
Died	July 15, 1899 (aged 66) Boston, Massachusetts
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	October 4, 1869 Eliza E. McLoon (died March 1877), October 31, 1882 Frances Farwell
Children	Eleanor Louise, Elizabeth Lenthal
Alma mater	Dartmouth College Harvard Law School
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Congregationalist

Walbridge Abner Field (April 26, 1833 – July 15, 1899) was an American lawyer, jurist and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts, and as the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He was born in North Springfield, Vermont on April 26, 1833. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1855, where he also served as a tutor. He studied law in Boston, Massachusetts and at the Harvard Law School. Field was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Boston. He served as a member of the City's school committee, and represented wards 5 and 8 on Boston's Common Council.

Walbridge Abner Field as a young man

Field was appointed assistant United States Attorney in 1865, serving in this capacity until April 1869, when he was appointed Assistant Attorney General of the United States, holding this office until August 1870, when he resigned. He resumed the practice of law in Boston, and presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Forty-fifth Congress where he served from March 4, 1877, to March 28, 1878, when he was succeeded by Benjamin Dean who contested his election. He was elected as a Republican to the Forty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881). He declined to be a candidate for renomination.

Field was appointed by Governor John Davis Long to the bench of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on February 21, 1881. He was promoted by Governor John Quincy Adams Brackett to the position of Chief Justice on September 4, 1890 and served until his death in Boston on July 15, 1899. His interment was in Forest Hills Cemetery in West Roxbury.

External links

• United States Congress. "Walbridge A. Field (id: F000108)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Walbridge A. Field at Find a Grave