Robert P. Dick

Robert Paine Dick (October 5, 1823 – September 12, 1898) was an attorney, North Carolina Supreme Court justice (1868–1872), and United States District Court judge (1872–1898).

Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Dick graduated from University of North Carolina in 1843 and read law to enter the bar in 1845. He was in private practice in Wentworth, North Carolina from 1845 to 1848, and in Greensboro from 1848 to 1853. Originally a Democrat, Dick served as United States attorney for the Albemarle, Cape Fear, and Pamptico Districts of North Carolina (effectively for the entire state) from 1853 to 1861. He was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention and was the only delegate from North Carolina who did not walk out after the nomination of Senator Stephen A. Douglas. One of Dick's daughters later married Robert M. Douglas, son of the U.S. senator. Dick also served in the North Carolina Council of State from 1862 to 1864, and in the North Carolina State Senate from 1864 to 1865. He returned to private practice in Greensboro, North Carolina from 1865 to 1868, and served as an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1868 to 1872.

Dick became a Republican after the American Civil War. On June 7, 1872, President Ulysses Grant nominated Dick to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina created by 17 Stat. 215. Dick was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 7, 1872, and received commission the same day. He retired from the bench on July 6, 1898. He died in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Dick and John H. Dillard (also a former state Supreme Court justice) founded Dick and Dillard Law School in Greensboro, which trained nearly 300 lawyers between 1878 and 1893.

His is buried in the Old First Presbyterian Church Cemetery at the Greensboro Historical Museum in Greensboro.

References

• Robert P. Dick at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• "Greensboro's first law school? Elon? Nope" by Jim Schlosser
• UNC Asheville
• Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States