Researching Edward Sanford

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Sanford practiced law in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, during the 1890s and the first decade of the 20th century. As Assistant Attorney General, he rose to national prominence as lead prosecutor during the high-profile trial of Joseph Shipp in 1907, which to date is the only criminal trial conducted by the Supreme Court.

Sanford is typically viewed as a conservative justice, favoring strict adherence to antitrust laws, and often voted with his mentor, Chief Justice William Howard Taft. Sanford's most lasting impact on American law is arguably his majority opinion in the landmark case Gitlow v. New York (1925). This case, which introduced the incorporation doctrine, helped pave the way for many of the Warren Court's decisions expanding civil rights and civil liberties in the 1950s and 1960s.

He was the only son of William Ayshford Sanford of Nynehead and Lynton, Devon and educated at Eton College (1808–13) and Brasenose College, Oxford. He lived at Nynehead Court, Wellington, Somerset.

Sanford was elected Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1830, sitting until 1832, and then represented Somerset West from 1832 to 1841. He was a Justice of the Peace (JP) and Deputy Lieutenant for Somerset, serving as High Sheriff of Somerset for 1848–49.

In 1832 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

He died in 1871, leaving his estates to his eldest son, William Ayshford Sanford. He had married twice: firstly Henrietta, the daughter of Sir William Langham, 8th Baronet, of Cottesbrooke, Northamptonshire, with whom he had 5 sons (2 of whom predeceased him) and 2 daughters and secondly Lady Caroline Anna Stanhope, the daughter of Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington. His son William was Colonial Secretary of Western Australia (1852–55).