Charles Fraser MacLean

Charles Fraser MacLean (November 21, 1841 – March 20, 1924)[1] was an American jurist.

Born in New Hartford, New York, he began attending Yale University as a junior in 1862. He graduated in 1864 and was a member of Skull and Bones.[1] In 1866, he was the first person to be awarded a PhD in philosophy from an American institution.[2] His dissertation was A Critique of John Stuart Mill's Examination of Hamilton's Philosophy.[3] In 1869 he earned his JUD at the University of Berlin.[1] His dissertation was De Jure Emigrandi.[4]

During the Franco-Prussian War, MacLean was a war correspondent for the New York World.[1][5][6] He accompanied U.S. military observer General Philip Sheridan and acted as his interpreter. He was one of the first non-combatants to enter Paris following the surrender of the French[1][5] and witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.[1] He recounted the Battle of Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III in his "The Surrender of an Emperor", published in The Second Book of the Authors Club: Liber Scriptorum (1921).[7] He also interviewed Otto von Bismarck,[5] Patrice de Mac-Mahon, Duke of Magenta, Adolphe Thiers, and Léon Gambetta.[1]

After a brief stint in St. Petersburg for The Times, he returned to the US to practice law. He entered the law office of Samuel J. Tilden,[1] who was related to his mother,[8] and would practice law in New York City most of the rest of his life.[1] He lectured on law at Columbia University (1873–4) and New York University (1885–97).[1] He served on the Board of Police Commissioners variously as counsel, a member, and president and served in various other city office and boards.[1] He was elected to be a judge on the New York Supreme Court and served for fourteen years (1895–1909).[1]

In 1887, he married Marie Mott (1854?–1946), daughter of industrialist Jordan L. Mott.[1][9]