Professor Abner S. Lipscomb

Judge Abner S. Lipscomb and Judge R.E.B. Baylor had given voluntary lectures in law in 1849; in the same year Lipscomb became a member of the Baylor Board of Trustees and held that position until his resignation in the spring of 1856. He died in December 1856, shortly before the official opening of the School of Law at Baylor University.

Lipscomb was born in South Carolina in 1789. He attended the common schools in that state and read law in the office of John C. Calhoun.

He was admitted to the bar in 1811, moved to Alabama, and later served in the Alabama Territorial Legislature.

In 1819, he was appointed one of the circuit judges who constituted the Supreme Court of Alabama. After four year, he was appointed Chief Justice, but resigned that position in 1835. In 1838, he was elected to the Alabama State Legislature.

Lipscomb moved to Texas in 1839, settling in Brenham where he soon had a large practice. He was a member of the Convention of 1845 and on a committee which made a report on the Federal Land Office. He served as the Secretary of State, and was later appointed to the first Supreme Court of the State of Texas, which also included Royal T. Wheeler. Lipscomb served on the court until his death. Lipscomb County is named in his honor.