Frederic René Coudert, Sr.

Frederic René Coudert, Sr. (March 1, 1832 – December 20, 1903) was a French American lawyer with Coudert Brothers.

Life

His father Charles Coudert was French, and left France in 1824.^[1] Frederic graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University in 1850, and on his majority was admitted to practice in the courts. He became a leader of the Bar.

During the controversy concerning American and British seal fisheries in the Bering Sea, and in the controversy concerning the disputed boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana (see Guayana Esequiba), he acted as legal adviser for the United States Government. He was uniquely qualified for the position, being fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish; he was also gifted with a ready and caustic wit.

He consented in 1876 to visit Louisiana for the purpose of urging the Returning Board to act justly, respecting election returns which were to determine the presidential succession. In 1892 and again in 1893 he was a prominent opponent of the courses taken by his own political party.

He declined the Russian mission, a judgeship of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York, and a justiceship of the Supreme Court of the United States. He accepted (as the only public office he ever held) unsalaried membership in the Board of Education of the City of New York.

Notes

References

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Frederick René Coudert". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.  The entry cites:
  • Addresses by Frederic H. Coudert (New York and London, 1905);
  • Annual Reports of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York (New York, 1905);
  • U. S. Cath. Hist. Soc. Records and Studies