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Phelan, John Dennis

journalist, lawyer, jurist, educator, state legislator, was born March 23, 1809, in New Brunswick, N. J. He became editor of the Huntsville Democrat; was in the Alabama legislature in 1833-35 attorney general of the state in 1836; speaker of the house in 1839; and a judge of the circuit court in 1841-51.

He was then elevated to the supreme bench, held office for two years, and again in 1863-65. He became professor of law in the university of the South in 1869, holding the chair till his death. He died Sept. 9, 1879, in Birmingham, Ala.