Marcus Wilson Acheson (1828 - 1906)

Born 7 Jun 1828 in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States of America

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Biography

Marcus Acheson is Notable.

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

The history of the legal profession in Pittsburgh is the history of a force not less potent than that of its factories and furnaces. Of this group none left a stronger impress than did the late Marcus W. Acheson, Presiding Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals. He was never in politics and his entire career was at the bar and on the bench.

Marcus W. Acheson, son of David and Mary (Wilson) Acheson, was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1828. He was graduated from Washington College (now Washington and Jefferson College) in 1846. Having read law with his brother, Alexander W. Acheson, he was admitted to the bar of Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1852. He removed to Pittsburgh, and on June 18, 1852, was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county. In 1860 he and George P. Hamilton joined in the practice of law, and the firm of Hamilton & Acheson continued until Mr. Hamilton's withdrawal on account of ill health, some years later. On January 7, 1880, Mr. Acheson was appointed by President Hayes to be the Judge of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He discharged the duties of United States District Judge until January 23, 1891, when he was appointed by President Harrison to be United States Circuit Judge, to succeed Judge William McKennan, for the Third Federal Judicial Circuit, composed of the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. At that time he was the sole circuit judge of the circuit, holding court in Pittsburgh, Erie, Scranton, Williamsport, Philadelphia, Trenton and Wilmington. Upon the organization of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, in 1891, he became and until his death continued Presiding Judge of that court for the Third Circuit, the sessions of which are held in Philadelphia. He continued also until his death to perform the duties of Circuit Judge, but there being two additional Circuit Judges for the Third District, his presence as Circuit Judge was only required at Pittsburgh as a general rule.

Judge Acheson married, June 9, 1859, Sophie Duff, daughter of Dr. William C. and Eliza (Reynolds) Reiter of Pittsburgh.

Judge Acheson died June 21, 1906, with no argued case undecided. One could ask for future generations nothing better than that the law continue to be administered by judges as fearless, able and just as was he.

Sources

• Wikipedia
• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, p. 64-65)
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 04 November 2020), memorial page for Judge Marcus Wilson Acheson (7 Jun 1828–21 Jun 1906), Find A Grave: Memorial #122127450, citing Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by KBStewart (contributor 47014320) .