The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baldwin, Simeon Eben

BALDWIN, Simeon Eben, educator, was born at New Haven, Conn., Feb. 5, 1840, son of Roger Sherman and Emily (Perkins) Baldwin, and great-grandson of Roger Sherman, signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was graduated at Yale college in 1861, studied law at Yale and Harvard law schools, was admitted to the bar in 1863, and began to practice his profession at New Haven. In 1869 he was appointed an instructor in the Yale law school, and was made professor of constitutional and mercantile law, corporations, and wills in 1872. In 1877 he was appointed by the legislature on a commission to revise the educational laws of Connecticut, and in 1873 on a commission to revise the general statutes. He was the originator of the movement to introduce code pleading in his state, and was on the commission appointed for that purpose in 1878. In 1885 he served on the commission to recommend a better system of taxation, and drew the report, the result of which was a large addition to the revenues of the state. In 1884 he was elected president of the New Haven colony historical society. He was one of the promoters of the New Haven park system and vice-president of the park commission. He was also vice-president of the state bar association, and in 1890 was made president of the American bar association. In 1893 he was elected an associate judge of the supreme court of errors of Connecticut. Harvard conferred on him the degree of LL. D. in 1891. He is the author of "Baldwin's Digest of the Connecticut Law Reports" (2 vols.), and of addresses and pamphlets.