Home > West's Encyclopedia of American Law > Evarts, William Maxwell

William Maxwell Evarts served as attorney general of the United States during the last year of the administration of President ANDREW JOHNSON. Evarts was a distinguished and powerful New York attorney who successfully defended President Johnson at his IMPEACHMENT trial, represented the REPUBLICAN PARTY before an electoral commission during the disputed presidential election of 1876, served as SECRETARY OF STATE during the administration of President RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, and ended his public career as a U.S. senator.

Evarts was born February 16, 1818, in Boston. He graduated from...