Nathan Dane (1752 - 1835)

Born 29 Dec 1752 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Died 15 Feb 1835 at age 82 in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts

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Biography

Nathan Dane is Notable.

Nathan Dane was a lawyer and statesman who represented Massachusetts in the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1788. He helped formulate the Northwest Ordinance while in Congress and introduced an amendment to the ordinance prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory. Dane County in Wisconsin is named after him.^[1]

In his old age he set about writing the first comprehensive treatise on American law. Between 1823 and 1829 he published nine volumes of A General Abridgement and Digest of American Law. The money made from the publication allowed him to endow a law school at Harvard. His friend Joseph Story was named the first Dane Professor of Law.^[2]

Marriage Record: DANE, Nathan and Polly (Mrs. Mary. Int.) Brown, Nov 14, 1779. C.R.I. ^[3]

Death Record and Inscription: DANE, Nathan, Hon. "the following inscription is engraved on his monument (believed to be written by Hon. Judge Story of the U.S. Supreme Court). In memory of the Hon. Nathan Dane, L. L D., a revolutionary Statesman; an eminent Jurist; the author of the Ordinance of 1787 for the Government of the Western Territories; the author of an Abridgement and Digest of the American Law; the Founder of the Dane Professorship of Law in Harvard University. His private life was distinguished for simplicity, integrity and dignity. His public life for Wisdom, fidelity, and patriotism, He lived and died a Christian. He was born Dec. 27, 1752. His fame belongs to his country. Let the gratitude of future ages cherish it," (paralysis. CR1), Feb. 15, 1835. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia Entry for Nathan Dane
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Dane#%22Father_of_American_Jurisprudence%22
3. ↑ Vital records of Beverly, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, Volume II; Beverly Marriages, Page 81
4. ↑ Vital records of Beverly, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, Volume II; Beverly Deaths; Page 414

• * Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774-2005; Nathan Dane Entry, page 916

• Gravesite and Gravestone: FindaGrave Profile #21861534