Draft:Daniel Weisel

Daniel Weisel (September 1803 – September 25, 1880) was a justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals from 1864 to 1867.

"Weisel was born in Williamsport, Maryland, in 1803, and had just completed the 77th year of his age. He was married in 1826 to Miss Matilda Davis, a niece of Gen. Otho H. Williams and a relative of the ex-President of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis.

They had no children, and his wife died about five or six years ago, after a long and happy married life. In his earlier years the Judge published a whig paper in Williamsport, known as The Banner, the editorials In which were so able and forcible that they attracted the attention and elicited favor able comment from Messrs. Gales &amp; Seaton, the well-known publishers 01 the National intelligencer. He graduated at Princeton College, and bore the title of LL. D., conferred upon him by that college in 1868.

After he graduated he entered the office of Mr Hoffman, a prominent whig lawyer in Baltimore, and while there graduated at the Balti more Law School. He was admitted to the bar here about 1828 or 1830, and soon acquired a large and excellent practice. He was made judge of the circuit comprising Allegany, Frederick and Montgomery counties in 1847, and remained upon the bench until after the adoption of the constitution of 1851. He was also judge of this judicial circuit from 1861 to 1807, and after the adoption of the constitution of 1864 a member of the Court of Appeals bench When the election of judges took place under the constitution of 1867 he was relegated to private life, and at once resumed the practice of his profession, at first with Colonel H. C. Rizor, then with Louis E. McOomas, and after wards with Mr. John F. A. Remley, now state's attorney of this county.

In 1868, as the republican candidate for Congress, he was defeated by Hon. Patrick Hamill, but succeeded in reducing a former majority of 2,800 to 480. He was in 1872 sent as a delegate at large from this State to the republican national convention which nominated Grant and Wilson. Judge Weisel was a generous, charitable man, his benefactions being numerous, and a warm advocate of education, the erection and success of the Hagerstown Female Seminary here being largely due to his efforts and the assistance he gave the institution: His death causes mourning among a large circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances, and he will be long remembered by the citizens of this county."

"The first session of the court under the constitution of 1864, was held on January 24, 1865, at a special term called under an act of assembly of that year, chapter 24. The only change in the membership was that made by the addition of one judge, and the new one was Daniel Weisel, of Washington County, elected on November 8, 1864. Judge Weisel had been an associate judge of the fourth circuit, which included his county, and had served in that position until his election to the Court of Appeals".

"Hon. Daniel Weisel, formerly Associate Judge of the fourth judicial district, died at Hagerstown, Saturday evening, after a lingering illness. Judge Weisel was a popular man in this section, and held during his life a number of positions of trust and honor. He was the opponent of Hon. Patrick Hamill for Congress, and in politics was a republican".

Weisel died at his home in Hagerstown, Maryland, shortly after turning 78. ref name="Prominent"/>