The Biographical Dictionary of America/Alvey, Richard Henry

ALVEY, Richard Henry, jurist, was born at St Mary's county, Md., March 26, 1826; son of George N. and Harriet (Wicklin) Alvey; grandson of John Alvey; and a descendant of John Alvey, a Revolutionary soldier in the Maryland line. He was educated in the schools of St. Mary's county, Md., and was clerk in the office of the Charles county clerk, 1844-'50. Meanwhile he had studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. He engaged in the practice of law at Hagerstown, Md., 1850-'67. He was a Pierce and King presidential elector in 1852; a member of the Maryland state constitutional convention in 1867; chief judge of the 4th judicial circuit and a judge of the Maryland court of appeals, 1867-'83; chief justice of the Maryland court of appeals, 1883-'93; and chief justice of the court of appeals of the District of Columbia from 1893. He was appointed by President Cleveland in January, 1896, one of the Venezuela boundary commission.