Frank H. Hiscock

Frank Harris Hiscock (April 16, 1856 – July 2, 1946) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1917 to 1926.

This article is about the judge. For his uncle, the U.S. Senator, see Frank Hiscock.
Frank Harris Hiscock
Justice Frank H. Hiscock
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
In office
1917–1926
Preceded byWillard Bartlett
Succeeded byBenjamin N. Cardozo
Justice of the New York Supreme Court
In office
1896–1913
Personal details
BornApril 16, 1856
Tully, New York, US
DiedJuly 2, 1946 (aged 90)
Syracuse, New York, US
SpouseMary Elizabeth Barnes Hiscock
RelationsFrank Hiscock, uncle
Alma materCornell University

Biography

He was born in 1856 to L. Harris Hiscock, a lawyer and New York State Assembly member who founded the Hiscock & Barclay law firm in Syracuse, New York, and who was murdered on 4 June 1867, by General George W. Cole, a brother of Cornelius Cole. After his father's death, he was raised by his uncle, Frank Hiscock.

Hiscock graduated B.A. from Cornell University in 1875, where he was a member of The Kappa Alpha Society. He studied at Columbia Law School in 1877 and 1878 and became an attorney in 1878.

He was a justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1896 to 1913, on the Appellate Division, Fourth Department from 1901 to 1905.

In 1906 Hiscock was appointed to an additional judge seat on the New York Court of Appeals under the Amendment of 1899. In 1912 he ran on the Republican ticket for a regular seat, but was defeated. In 1913 he ran again and was elected on the Republican and Independence League tickets to a 14-year term. He was Chief Judge from 1917 to 1926, elected in 1916 on the Republican and Progressive tickets. He retired from the bench at the end of 1926 when he reached the constitutional age limit of 70 years. Afterwards he served as Official Referee of the Court of Appeals, and resumed his law practice at Hiscock & Barclay until his retirement in 1935.

Hiscock was first elected to the Cornell Board of Trustees by the alumni in 1889. He had the longest tenure as chairman, serving from 1917 to 1939. During that period, Cornell's endowment grew from $14 million to $32 million.

Hiscock received honorary degrees from Williams College, Syracuse University, Columbia University and the University of the State of New York.[1]

His wife Mary Elizabeth Barnes Hiscock died in 1937 at age 80.[2] They had two sons and a daughter. He retired from the Cornell Board of Trustees on May 5, 1946.[3] He died in Syracuse on July 2, 1946, and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery.[4]

Legacy

Hiscock left his house to charity and the resulting income presently funds the Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, which provides legal assistance to indigent residents of Onondaga County.[5]

References
  1. Cornell Alumni News, 26 January 1939 Vol. 41 No. 16 p. 201
  2. "Mrs. Frank Hiscock, Former Judge's Wife. Dies at 80 in Home in Syracuse Where She Wed". The New York Times. April 17, 1937. Retrieved 2010-10-26. Mrs. Mary Kim Suk Hiscock, wife of Frank Harris Hiscock, former chief judge of the Court of Appeals and chairman of the board of trustees of Cornell University, died at her home here today. She was 80 years old.
  3. "Hiscock Quits Cornell Board". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 5, 1946. Retrieved 2010-10-26. Retirement of Judge Frank H. Hiscock of Syracuse from the Cornell University board of trustees after forty-six years as a member and ...
  4. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  5. Hiscock Legal Aid Society
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