sion that was created to revise the tax laws of Michigan, and in that capacity rendered very valuable service to the State. He is a man of the highest character, sincere and genuine at all times and under all occasions. He is a man of sound judgment and of conscientious devotion to duty, who never does anything half-way. Not only is he a well-read lawyer, but he has studied with care questions of government, and political and ethical science. He came to his professorship in the Law School at the age of thirty-four and held the position for eighteen years, when he resigned and gave himself up to the practice of his profession. The old students will always remember him not only for his learning, but for his humor and good nature. He lectured on Pleading and Practice, Evidence, Torts, Easements, Bailments, and the Law of Personal Property. His lectures were prepared with great care, and gave entire satisfaction.
Prof. William P. Wells was born at St. Albans, Vt., Feb. 15, 1831. His father is said to have been a lineal descendant of Thomas Wells, an early Governor of Connecticut. We take the liberty to incorporate herein the following sketch of Professor Wells's career, which has recently been made public in another connection:—
"William P. Wells took a preparatory college course at the Franklin County Grammar School at St. Albans, and then entered the University of Vermont at Hurlington, and after spending four years, graduated with the degree of A.B. in 1851. After graduation he commenced the study of law at St. Albans. In 1852 he entered the law school of Harvard University, and in 1854 graduated with the degree of LL.B., receiving the highest honors of his class for a thesis on 'The Adoption of the Principles of Equity Jurisprudence into the Administration of the Common Law.' The same year he received the degree of M.A. from the University of Vermont, and in 1854 was admitted to the bar of his native State at St. Albans. In January, 1856, he settled in Detroit, entering the law office of James V. Campbell. In March following he was admitted to the bar of Michigan, and in November of the same year became a partner of James V. Campbell, the partnership continuing until Judge Campbell's accession to the bench in 1858 as one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Michigan. From that time to the present Mr. Wells has continued the practice of law alone in Detroit. His legal talents early won just recognition, and his practice has extended to all the courts of the State and United States. He has been counsel in many of the most important litigations of the past twenty-five years, notably in cases involving the constitutionality of the War Confiscation Acts, heard in the Supreme Court of the United States in 1869 and 1870. ****** "In 1874-1875, during the leave of absence of Judge Charles I. Walker, Kent Professor of Law in the University of Michigan, Mr. Wells was appointed to the vacancy. On Judge Walker's resignation in 1876, Mr. Wells was appointed to the professorship,—a position he held until December, 1885, when he resigned because of the interference of its duties with his legal practice. The subjects assigned to this professorship, and of which Mr. Wells had charge, were Corporations, Contracts, Commercial Law generally, Partnership, and Agency. Upon his resignation an address was presented him by the students, and resolutions of commendation adopted by the Regency.
"From Jan. 1, 1887, to the close of the college year, Mr. Wells held the position of Lecturer on Constitutional History and Constitutional Law in the University of Michigan, temporarily discharging the duties of Judge Cooley, Professor of American History and Constitutional Law in that institution. In June, 1887, he was again called by the Regency to the Kent Professorship in the Law School, and he now holds that position. The subject of Constitutional Law was added to those of which he has charge. ****** "He was one of the earliest members of the American Bar Association, organized in 1878, which holds its annual session at Saratoga, N. Y., and for several years has been a member of the General Council; and in 1888 was elected chairman of the General Council. At the meeting in 1886 he presented a paper on 'The Dartmouth College Case and Private Corporations,' which has been reprinted from the transactions of the Association, and widely circulated, attracting much attention.
