James Kent

Kent, James (1763–1847), U.S. jurist. He was the first professor of law at Columbia College (1793–98; 1823–26) and judge and chief judge (1798–1823) of the New York Supreme Court. As chancellor of the New York Court of Chancery (1814–23) he revived equity law in the United States. He wrote the monumental Commentaries on American Law (1826–30).