Wheeler H. Peckham
Wheeler H. Peckham (1833-1905) was an influential American lawyer and reformist born in Albany, New York. He graduated from Albany Law School in 1855 and gained significant recognition in 1868 when he successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the limitations of state taxation on "greenback" dollars. A prominent figure in legal reform, Peckham was a founding member of the New York City Bar Association and played a key role in the prosecution of political figure William "Boss" Tweed in 1873 for fraud and corruption. He was known as a "hard fighting reform Democrat" and was closely associated with Governor Grover Cleveland.
In 1894, after the death of Justice Samuel Blatchford, Peckham's name was put forward for a vacant Supreme Court seat, but his nomination faced opposition and was ultimately denied by the Senate. Despite this setback, his brother Rufus W. Peckham was later confirmed to the Court. Afterward, Wheeler H. Peckham returned to his legal practice in New York City, where he continued to influence the legal landscape until his death in 1905. His legacy reflects his commitments to legal reform and public service during a transformative period in American history.
Subject Terms
Wheeler H. Peckham
Nominated by: Grover Cleveland
Significance: Peckham’s unsuccessful nomination to the Supreme Court, coupled with the failed nomination of fellow New Yorker William B. Hornblower, opened the way for the appointment of Louisiana Senator Edward D. White in 1894.
Born in Albany, New York, Peckham graduated from Albany Law School in 1855 and gained public attention in 1868 by successfully arguing before the Supreme Court that states lacked the power to tax “greenback” dollars. A founding father of the New York City Bar Association, in 1873 he aided in the successful prosecution of William “Boss” Tweed on charges of fraud and corruption. Later described as a “hard fighting reform Democrat,” Peckham and his brother Rufus W. Peckham became associated with Governor Grover Cleveland.
Cleveland was president of the United States when Justice Samuel Blatchford of New York died in 1893, and political observers speculated that the president might nominate one of the two Peckhams for the vacant seat, but Cleveland picked another New Yorker, William B. Hornblower. However, Hornblower had angered New York Democratic Senator David B. Hill during an earlier investigation for election fraud, and Hill used senatorial courtesy to deny Hornblower’s confirmation on January 15, 1894. Eight days later, Cleveland submitted Wheeler H. Peckham’s name for consideration.
Peckham, however, was no more acceptable to Hill, who had been on the losing side of a patronage fight in which Peckham had sided with Cleveland against Hill. On February 16, 1894, the Senate formally voted forty-one to thirty-two to deny confirmation. The vacancy left by Blatchford was filled by Edward D. White, who assumed office in March. Two years later, Cleveland was able to secure the confirmation of Peckham’s brother to the Court. Peckham resumed his law practice in New York and died there ten years later.