Jesse Lynch Holman

Jesse Lynch Holman (October 24, 1784 – March 28, 1842) was an Indiana attorney, politician and jurist, as well as a novelist, poet, city planner and preacher. He helped to found Indiana University, Franklin College and the Indiana Historical Society. He was one of the first three Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana. Education and career Born on October 24, 1784, near Danville, District of Kentucky, Virginia (now Kentucky), Holman grew up on the frontier. He read law and was admitted to the Kentucky bar on September 2, 1805. He entered private practice in Pointe William (now Carrollton), Kentucky from 1805 to 1811, also practicing in New Castle, Kentucky and Frankfort, Kentucky. In 1808, Holman came to the Indiana Territory and acquired land in Dearborn County. He continued private practice in Aurora, Indiana Territory (State of Indiana from December 11, 1816) from 1811 to 1835, becoming a prominent politician and jurist. He was appointed by Governor William Henry Harrison to be prosecutor for Dearborn County, Indiana Territory in 1811. He was the territorial representative for the Indiana Territory in 1814. He was President of the Indiana Territorial Council in 1814. He was a Judge of the Circuit Court of Indiana Territory from 1814 to 1816, with the Second Judicial Circuit from 1814 to 1816, and with the Third Judicial Circuit in 1816. He was appointed by Governor of Indiana Jonathan Jennings to serve as a justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, serving from 1817 to December 28, 1830. He was Superintendent of Schools for Dearborn County, Indiana from 1830 to 1834. He was a candidate for the United States Senate from Indiana in 1831. Notable case as Indiana Supreme Court Justice