John Wesley Wescott

John Wesley Wescott (February 20, 1849 – June 11, 1927) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as Attorney General of New Jersey from 1914 to 1919. He had the distinction of making the nominating speech for Woodrow Wilson at the Democratic National Convention in both 1912 and 1916.

Early life

Wescott was born in Waterford Township, New Jersey, in 1849 to John and Catherine (Bozarth) Wescott. He attended Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts before entering Yale College, where he graduated in 1872. He then attended Yale Law School, graduating in 1876. At Yale, he was active in football, rowing, baseball, wrestling, and boxing, and also won high honors for oratory and English composition.

Legal and political career

After returning to New Jersey, Wescott was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1878 and a counsellor in 1881. He practiced law in Camden County, and in 1885 was appointed by Governor Leon Abbett to be Presiding Judge of the Common Pleas for the county. His name was put forth as a Democratic candidate for United States Senate in 1914 and 1916.

Death In 1927 Wescott died at his home in Haddonfield, New Jersey, at the age of 78. He was survived by his wife, Francis Marie Louise Leclerc Prior (married January 1, 1875), and his three sons Henry D. (born 1876), Ethan P. (born 1881), and Ralph W. (born 1883), all lawyers.