Edward J. C. Kewen

Edward J. C. Kewen
Attorney General of California
In office
1850–1849
Preceded bynone
Succeeded byJames A. McDougall
Personal details
Born(1825-11-02)November 2, 1825
Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedNovember 26, 1879(1879-11-26) (aged 54)
Alhambra, California, U.S.

Edward J. C. Kewen (November 2, 1825 – November 26, 1879) was a politician in California and the first Attorney General of California.[1][2] He was Superintendent of the Los Angeles City schools in 1858 and Los Angeles County District Attorney from 1859 to 1861.[3] He also served in both the Assembly and Senate of the California State Legislature.[4]

Kewen was originally from Columbus, Mississippi, and the son of an Irish immigrant who served in the War of 1812.[5] At the age of thirteen, he matriculated at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.[5] He had to return home, however, after his third year of study. Unable to complete his undergraduate education, he became an attorney by reading law in his native Columbus.[6][7] Subsequently, he relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, for the purpose of practicing law before moving to California.

Kewen died on November 26, 1879, at his home in Alhambra, California.[8] He is an honoree of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Criminal Justice Wall of Fame (1850–2000): "In Honor of Los Angeles Judges and Lawyers Whose Outstanding Conduct and Professionalism Made Significant Contributions to the Criminal Justice System During Their Lifetimes."[9]

  1. ^ Grace, Roger M., Perspectives metnews.com
  2. ^ Edward J.C. Kewen museumstuff.com
  3. ^ L A District Attorney da.lacounty.gov
  4. ^ "An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California". Chicago, The Lewis publishing company. 1889.
  5. ^ a b "The Late Col. E.J.C. Kewen". Los Angeles Herald. November 27, 1879. p. 3.
  6. ^ "Alumni Record of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn". Press of Rand, Avery. 1883.
  7. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~npmelton/shk_341.htm [user-generated source]
  8. ^ "Died". Los Angeles Herald. November 27, 1879. p. 3.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2015-10-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)