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Edward Douglass White

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"EDWARD DOUGLASS WHITE (1845-1921), American jurist, was born on a plantation in the parish of Lafourche, La., Nov. 3 1845. His father was seventh governor of Louisiana. He was educated at Mount St. Mary's, Md., Georgetown (D.C.) College, and, after the outbreak of the Civil War, at the Jesuit College in New Orleans. During the latter part of the war he served as a private in the Confederate army. He studied law in the office of Edward Bermudez, later chief justice of Louisiana, was admitted to the bar in 1868, and practised law in New Orleans. In 1874 he was elected to the state Senate, and four years later was appointed associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. In 1891 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and before completing his term was appointed, in 1894, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by President Cleveland. In 1910 he was appointed chief justice by President Taft. Many of his notable opinions were delivered in connexion with the Sherman anti-trust law. Of special importance were his opinions requiring the dissolution of the Standard Oil Co. and the American Tobacco Co. in 1911. As chief justice he administered the oath of office to President Wilson in 1913 and 1917, and to President Harding in 1921. He died at Washington, D.C., May 19 1921.