Field

Field, U.S. family prominent in law and industry in the 19th century. Three sons of Congregational minister and historian David Dudley Field (1781–1867) distinguished themselves. Cyrus West Field (1819–92) was an industrialist and promoter of the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858, financed by English and U.S. companies. Though it failed 3 weeks later, he raised new funds for a new, successful cable (1866). David Dudley Field, Jr. (1805–94), jurist, was appointed by the state of New York in 1857 to draw up civil, political, and penal codes. In 1873 he became the president of the International Law Association. Stephen Johnson Field (1816–99) became chief justice of California and a U.S. Supreme Court justice in 1863.