Rufus Thayer

Rufus Hildreth Thayer (1850–1917) was, between 1909 and 1913, the judge of the United States Court for China based in Shanghai.

Rufus Thayer
Rufus Thayer, Judge of the United States Court for China
Judge of the United States Court for China
In office
1909–1913
Preceded byLebbeus R. Wilfley
Succeeded byCharles S. Lobingier
Personal details
Born(1850-06-19)June 19, 1850
Plymouth, Michigan, U.S.
Died(1917-07-12)July 12, 1917
Alma materUniversity of Michigan

Early life

Thayer was born in Plymouth, Michigan, on June 19, 1850. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1871.[1]

Career

Thayer joined the Library of Congress as an assistant librarian. At the same time he studied law and graduated in 1874. He was appointed law clerk in the Treasury Department where he remained for ten years before leaving to form the law firm, Thayer & Rankin. He also served as a Judge Advocate General of the National Guard in Washington DC.[2]

In 1909, he was appointed judge of the United States Court for China replacing Lebbeus R. Wilfley. He served until 1913, when he resigned when investigations were begun into some of the expenses he had claimed. Rather than face an investigation, Thayer resigned with effect from December 31, 1913.[3] He was succeeded by Charles S. Lobingier

Death

Thayer died on 12 July 1917 of apoplexy in Kingston, New York.[4] He was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York.[5]

Further reading

  • Clark, Douglas (2015). Gunboat Justice: British and American Law Courts in China and Japan (1842-1943). Hong Kong: Earnshaw Books., Vol. 1: ISBN 978-988-82730-8-9; Vol. 2: ISBN 978-988-82730-9-6; Vol. 3: ISBN 978-988-82731-9-5
  • Scully, Eileen P. (2001). Bargaining with the State from Afar: American Citizenship in Treaty Port China, 1842-1942. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12109-5.

References

  1. C.S. Carter, History of the Class of ’70, p222
  2. Obituary, New York Times, July 13, 1917
  3. North China Herald, 15 November 1913, p484.
  4. Obituary, New York Times, July 13, 1917
  5. Find a grave entry for Thayer
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