| Edwin B. Crocker | |
|---|---|
Edwin B. Crocker, c. 1872 by Stephen W. Shaw |
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| Born | April 26, 1818 Jamesville, New York, USA |
| Died | June 24, 1875 (aged 57) Sacramento, California, USA |
| Occupation | Lawyer California Supreme Court Justice |
| Known for | Crocker Art Museum |
| Spouse | Mary Norton Margaret Rhodes |
| Children | Aimée Crocker Jennie Crocker Fassett |
Edwin Bryant Crocker (26 April 1818 – 24 June 1875) was a California Supreme Court Justice and founder of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California.
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Crocker was born in Jamesville, New York. He earned a degree in civil engineering at Rensselaer Institute in Troy, New York. He went on to study law in Indiana. While there, he started a practice that earned him a reputation as an abolitionist. Upon his second marriage, to Margaret Rhodes on July 8, 1852, Crocker and his wife moved to Sacramento, California.[1]
When they arrived in Sacramento, Crocker resumed his legal career. He was also involved in politics. In 1854, he became the chair of the Republican Party. In 1863, then-Governor Leland Stanford appointed him as a Justice of the California Supreme Court. The next year, Crocker agreed to serve as legal council for the Central Pacific Railroad, a company run by the Big Four, which included Edwin's younger brother, Charles Crocker.[2]
The stress of all of his work took a toll on Crocker. He suffered from a stroke in June 1869. He retired from his other pursuits and took up less stressful hobbies. Crocker and his family traveled throughout Europe and collected art. His family renovated their home to include an art gallery. Their home and the art that they had acquired would eventually become the Crocker Art Museum.[1]
After his stroke, Crocker's health never fully recovered. On June 24, 1875, he died in Sacramento. He is interred in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery in Sacramento, California.[3]