Joseph Henry Lumpkin

Joseph Henry Lumpkin (December 23, 1799 – June 4, 1867) was the first chief justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S. state of Georgia. While ambivalent on the topic of slavery early in his life, he was a slaveholder and eventually became a devout defender of the institution.

Biography

Early life and education Lumpkin was born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, Georgia, for some time and then attended and graduated from Princeton College in 1819. After studying law under the tutelage of Thomas W. Cobb, Lumpkin was admitted to the state bar in 1820, and he began practicing in Lexington, Georgia. In 1833, Lumpkin worked in unison with future U.S. Congressman and Georgia Governor, William Schley, and John H. Cuthbert to create the Georgia state penal code.

After the creation of the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1845, Lumpkin was elected as one of three initial justices to preside over that court and was its first chief justice. He served on the court for more than 20 years until his death. One of the slaves he owned was William Finch who he purchased from Judge Garnett Andrews, the father of Eliza Frances Andrews in 1848.

University of Georgia School of Law He was one of three co-founders of the University of Georgia School of Law in 1859. Originally known as the Lumpkin School of Law; By the time Lumpkin was on the Georgia Supreme Court, he was devoted to promoting slavery. In an 1850 address to the South Carolina Institute, Lumpkin pointed to corporations and to slavery as key to promoting economic development in the South.

Death Lumpkin died and was buried in Athens on June 4, 1867.