Myra Clark Gaines | |
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| Born | June 30, 1804 |
| Died | January 9, 1885 (aged 80) |
| Spouses | |
| Parent(s) | Daniel Clark Zulime Carrière |
Myra Clark Gaines (c. June 30, 1804 – January 9, 1885) was an American socialite and plaintiff in the longest-running lawsuit in the history of the United States court system. From 1834 to 1891, Gaines was at the center of a legal battle to recognize her legal status as the sole heir of her deceased father's estate and recover valuable land in New Orleans. During its 57-year history in the courtroom, the Gaines cases appeared before the Supreme Court seventeen times and the Louisiana state and federal court at least seventy times.[1] The Gaines cases are notable not only because of their length and complexity but also due to the controversial image and perseverance of Myra Clark Gaines herself, particularly at a time when women were confined to a domestic, dutiful ideal of femininity.