Wheaton, HENRY, American jurist, was born at Providence, Rhode Island, November 27, 1785, graduated at Brown University in 1802, and three years later was admitted to the bar. From 1812 to 1815 he edited the National Advocate in New York, then for four years was a justice of the Marine Court there, and from 1816 to 1827 reporter for the United States Supreme Court (Reports, 12 vols. 1826-27; also Digest of Decisions from 1789 to 1820, 1820-29). In 1827-35 he was chargé d'affaires at Copenhagen, and in 1835-46 minister at Berlin. In 1836 he published his most important work, the
Elements of International Law, which has seen many editions, under various editors, and been several times translated. Other works include a Life of William Pinkney, Histories of the Northmen and of the Law of Nations, &c. He died at Dorchester, Massachusetts, March 11, 1848.