Joseph Coerten Hornblower was an American lawyer and jurist from Belleville, New Jersey. He was the chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Occupation
lawyer, judge, politician
Citizenship
United States
Born
May 6, 1777
Died
June 11, 1864
Overview
Joseph Coerten Hornblower (May 7, 1777 – June 11, 1864) was an American lawyer and jurist from Belleville, New Jersey. He was the chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Early life and education
Hornblower was born on May 7, 1777, in Belleville, New Jersey, and lived there for his entire life. His parents were Josiah and Elizabeth (née Kingsland) Hornblower. Josiah Hornblower was a prominent engineer and mine operator who served in the Continental Congress.
As a child, Joseph's health was poor, so he was educated at home. He had a "stroke of paralysis" at the age of 16 that affected his memory. But he read for the law with an attorney in Newark and was admitted to the bar in 1803.
Later in his life, the Princeton Law School conferred him with an honorary degree of Legum Doctor on September 30, 1841.
