John William Wallace

Template:Short description Template:Infobox person/Wikidata John William Wallace (February 17, 1815 – January 12, 1884)<ref name="oxford">Template:Cite web</ref> was an American lawyer and the seventh reporter of decisions of the United States Supreme Court, serving from 1863 to 1874.

Formative years

Born in Philadelphia on February 17, 1815, Wallace graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1833. He then studied law under his father and John Sergeant and was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1836.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Career

While working as librarian to the Law Association of Philadelphia, he compiled three volumes of decisions of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals,<ref>Cases in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Third Circuit (1849-1871).</ref> which sat in that city. He wrote The Reporters on English reporters and cases, first as an article in the American Law Magazine (1844),<ref>American Law Magazine, volume 2 (January 1844): 271-345.</ref> and then as a book in multiple editions (1845, 1855, 1882) that made his reputation.

His twenty-three volumes of reports of the Supreme Court's cases (volumes 68-90) are highly respected for their quality. He also served as president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (April 13, 1868 – January 12, 1884).<ref>Hampton L. Carson. A History of the Historical of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: The Society Under the Special Centennial Publication Fund, 1940. Volume 1, pp. 371-444.</ref>

Death

Wallace died in Philadelphia, his hometown, on January 12, 1884.<ref name="oxford"/>