Wheaton, Henry (1785–1848)
WHEATON, HENRY (1785–1848)
Henry Wheaton read law in his native Providence, Rhode Island, and studied civil law in France in 1805–1806. While in France he translated the new Code Napoléon into English. He became the first official reporter for the United States Supreme Court under an 1816 statute creating that position. From 1816 to 1827 Wheaton edited twelve volumes of United States Reports. While official reporter he argued a number of cases, including gibbons v. ogden (1824). In Wheaton v. Peters (1834) he unsuccessfully sued his successor, Richard Peters. The Supreme Court ruled that no individual could hold a copyright on Supreme Court opinions. From 1827 to 1846 Wheaton held various diplomatic positions and wrote extensively on international law. His works included Elements of International Law, History of the Law of Nations (1842) and an essay on the African slave trade (1842). He was the foremost American expert on international law during his lifetime.
Paul Finkelman
(1986)
Bibliography
Baker, Elizabeth F. 1937 Henry Wheaton, 1785–1848. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.