| Edward Beers Thomas | |
|---|---|
 Sketch of Thomas from New York Journal and Advertiser from January 11, 1899 | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | |
| In office February 15, 1898 – December 31, 1906 | |
| Appointed by | William McKinley |
| Preceded by | Asa Wentworth Tenney |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Chatfield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward Beers Thomas (1848-08-04)August 4, 1848 Cortland, New York |
| Died | March 27, 1929(1929-03-27) (aged 80) Brooklyn, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Yale University (A.B.) |
Edward Beers Thomas (August 4, 1848 – March 27, 1929) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Education and career
Born on August 4, 1848, in Cortland, New York, Thomas received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1870 from Yale University. He entered private practice in New York. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1881 to 1885. He was elected from New York's 24th Senate District, sitting in the 105th, 106th, 107th and 108th New York State Legislatures. At the New York state election, 1885, he ran on the Republican ticket for New York Attorney General but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat Denis O'Brien.
Federal judge
Thomas was nominated by President William McKinley on February 7, 1898, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York vacated by Judge Asa Wentworth Tenney. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 15, 1898, and received his commission the same day. Thomas was the judge in the trial of Captain William Van Schaick in 1906, after the PS General Slocum disaster, the worst maritime disaster of the 20th century until the sinking of the RMS Titanic and the worst maritime disaster in New York City history, and the deadliest manmade disaster of any sort in the New York area until the September 11 attacks in 2001. His service terminated on December 31, 1906, due to his resignation.
Later career and death
Following his resignation from the federal bench, Thomas served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York for the Second Judicial District from 1907 to 1918. He died on March 27, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York.
References
- ^ Edward Beers Thomas at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Kleinfield, N. R. (September 2, 2007). "A Debate Rises: How Much 9/11 Tribute Is Enough?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
Sources
- Edward Beers Thomas at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
| New York State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byEdwin G. Halbert | New York State Senate 24th District 1882–1885 |
Succeeded byMatthew W. Marvin |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded byAsa Wentworth Tenney | Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York 1898–1906 |
Succeeded byThomas Chatfield |
- 1848 births
- 1929 deaths
- 19th-century American judges
- 19th-century American lawyers
- 20th-century American judges
- People from Cortland, New York
- Lawyers from Brooklyn
- Yale University alumni
- New York (state) state senators
- Judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States federal judges appointed by William McKinley
- New York Supreme Court Justices
- 19th-century members of the New York State Legislature