Origins & Early Life

David Dudley Field II (February 13, 1805 – April 13, 1894) was an American lawyer and law reformer who made major contributions to the development of American civil procedure. His greatest accomplishment was engineering the move away from common law pleading towards code pleading, which culminated in the enactment of the Field Code in 1850 by the state of New York. In 1877, he also served briefly as a U.S. representative from New York's 7th congressional district.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Field was born in Haddam, Connecticut on February 13, 1805. He was the oldest of the eight sons and two daughters of the Rev. David Dudley Field I, a Congregational minister and local historian, and Submit Dickenson Field. His brothers included Stephen Johnson Field, a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Cyrus Field, a prominent businessman and creator of the Atlantic Cable, and Rev.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Henry Martyn Field, a prominent clergyman and travel writer. He was also the uncle of U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Josiah Brewer. He graduated from Williams College in 1825, studied law with Harmanus Bleecker in Albany, and settled in New York City. After his admission to the bar in 1828, he rapidly won a high position...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexis de Tocqueville — Contemporary (Born in 1805) (1805): French philosopher known for analyzing Western democracy and social trends.
• Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis — Contemporary (Died in 1805) (1805): British general officer, politician, and administrator famed for his role in the American War of Independence.
• Ferdinand de Lesseps — Contemporary (Born in 1805) (1805): French diplomat renowned for developing the Suez Canal and attempting the Panama Canal.
• Aldous Huxley — Contemporary (Born in 1894) (1894): English writer and philosopher known for social satire and mystical explorations.
• Alfred Kinsey — Contemporary (Born in 1894) (1894): Pioneering sexologist whose research fundamentally shaped modern understanding of human sexuality.
• Bankim Chandra Chatterjee — Contemporary (Died in 1894) (1894): Pioneering Bengali novelist, poet, and journalist, celebrated as the 'Emperor of Literature'.
• Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah — Shared historical date (02-13 · Died) (1021): Sixth Fatimid Caliph and 16th Ismaili Imam, known for a controversial reign.
• Arno Breker — Shared historical date (02-13 · Died) (1991): German sculptor famous for monumental works during the Nazi era.
• Ahlam Mosteghanemi — Shared historical date (04-13 · Born) (1959): Pioneering Algerian poet and novelist celebrated for her evocative Arabic literature.
• Al Green — Shared historical date (04-13 · Born) (1946): Iconic American soul singer, songwriter, and pastor celebrated for his timeless vocal artistry.
• 1805 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1805
• February 13 (02-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 13
• 1894 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1894
• April 13 (04-13) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on April 13