Temporary record

Having studied law with Leverett Saltonstall, Salem native George H. Devereux (Harvard, class of 1829) was admitted to the Essex County Bar in 1831, and in about that year, he married a daughter of one of Salem's most prosperous merchants, John Forrester. Devereux was elected twice to the Massachusetts House (1834 and 1835), before removing for 10 years to Maine, to attend to his land interests there. Remaining active in politics while in Maine, Devereux was selected as a delegate to the Whig convention of 1840, and after returning to Salem in 1846, he was selected by Gov. Briggs to serve as Adjutant General of Massachusetts (1848-51). He was returned to the state legislature in 1856.

Devereux was a popular speaker, and a contributor to a number of publications, including the North American Review, often passionately defending his deeply held Whig convictions. His two sons, John Forrester and Arthur F. Devereux, attained some prominence as soldiers during the Civil War. John, a Harvard graduate, served as a Captain in the 11th Massachusetts Infantry, and Arthur as Captain in the 8th Massachusetts Infantry. The Clements has an outstanding journal that was presented to Arthur Devereux, recounting the duties of the 8th Massachusetts, the 'Salem Zouaves,' in Baltimore during the summer, 1861.

Scope and contents:

The Devereux Collection consists primarily of essays and speeches written by George H. Devereux between about 1840 and 1870, many reflective of his politically and socially progressive point of view. Included are 5 poems, essays on proper names, woman's rights, the Childrens' Friend Society, and free thought, seven essays on historical topics (including two on the Civil War written during the war), 13 essays on philosophical topics (common sense, time, mythology, human nature), and several minor essays on a wide range of topics, including abolitionism, literature, modern science, spiritualism, Lord Byron, and Unitarianism. There are sixe miscellaneous items relating to Devereux's sons, five relating to John F. Devereux's Civil War service, and a pamphlet written in 1963 on Arthur Devereux's service during the Battle of Gettysburg.

M-2835

Spiritualism
Speeches
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Women's rights

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