Field, Stephen Johnson (1816-1899), was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1863 to 1897. On the court, Field worked to protect capitalism and property rights of individuals.
Field was born on Nov. 4, 1816, in Haddam, Connecticut. He graduated from Williams College in 1837. In 1841, he formed a law practice in New York City with his brother David Dudley Field, Jr., who later became a prominent legal reformer. In 1849, Stephen moved to California. He was elected to the state legislature in 1850, and served until 1857. Field won election to California’s Supreme Court in 1857. He served on the California court until 1863. Field’s brother Cyrus West Field promoted the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean. He died on April 9, 1899.
