History of Hardwick, (Caledonia County) Vermont United States of America

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Dorman Bridgman Eaton, lawyer, was born at Hardwick, Vt., June 21, 1823; son of Nathaniel and Ruth (Bridgman) Eaton. He was graduated from the University of Vermont in lS48, and from the Harvard law school in 1850, receiving the highest prize for a legal essay. He prepared a supplement to Chipman's work on contracts. In 1850 and 1851 he assisted Judge William Kent in editing the seventh edition of Kent's commentaries, and in 1851 became a partner of Judge Kent in the practice of law. In 1866 he passed several months in Europe, studying the sanitary laws and administration of England. He drafted the law under which the Metropolitan beard of health for New York and Brooklyn was organized in 1866, and in 1867 drafted the "Sanitary Code" of ordinances for that body, of which he was the first counsel. He was elected a member of the Union league club in 1862, and was at one time one of its vice-presidents. He was for several years chairman of its committee on political reform. Upon the resignation of George William Curtis in 1873 he was appointed a member of the Civil service commission and was elected chairman of that body, continuing in that position under Presidents Grant, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur. The first Civil service reform association was formed in 1877 at Mr. Eaton's house. He visited Europe in 1875 and 1877 and made a careful study of the civil service of England. He drafted the bill which became the Civil service law of 1883, under which the National civil service commission was organized. He was a member of the first Civil service commission appointed under this law by President Arthur, in March, 1883. Having resigned this office in November, 1885, he was reappointed a commissioner by President Cleveland, and served until April, 1886, when he again resigned. He delivered the annual address before the Yale law school at its 58th anniversary in 1882. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of Vermont in 1874. He wrote: Chipman on Contracts Payable in Specific Articles (1852); Civil Service in Great Britain (1880); The Independent Movement in New York (1880); The Government Municipalities (1899), and many pamphlets. He died in New York city, Dec. 23, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Hardwick, (Caledonia County) Vermont

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