General Orders No. 100, issued on 24 April 1863, established the first modern codification of military law for battlefield conduct in the United States. Authored by Francis Lieber, this framework—known as the Lieber Code—eventually provided the foundational legal architecture for the international Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 as well as the later Geneva Conventions.
Early Life and European Military Service
Born in Berlin in 1800 to a merchant family, Francis Lieber served in the Prussian Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in the Battle of Waterloo and sustained wounds at Namur. His early adulthood was marked by political instability; he was imprisoned in Spandau and later Köpenick due to his outspoken republican views. Following his studies at the University of Jena, where he earned a doctorate in 1820, he traveled to Greece to participate in the Greek War of Independence before ultimately emigrating to the United States in 1827.
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Upon arriving in the United States, Lieber initially focused on physical education, managing a gymnasium and a swimming program in Boston. His editorial capabilities gained prominence through the production of the Encyclopaedia Americana, published in 13 volumes between 1829 and 1833. He later transitioned into higher education, holding professorships at the University of South Carolina beginning in 1835 and at Columbia University in 1857. He concluded his academic career at Columbia Law School, where he served until his death in 1872.
Contribution to Jurisprudence and War Law
Lieber was a multifaceted scholar whose work spanned history, political economy, and philosophy. His most enduring contribution remains the codification of military law during the American Civil War. As a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, his intellectual influence extended to constitutional law and political science. He died in New York City and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, leaving behind a body of work that influenced the development of international customary law.
Fast facts
- Born: 1800, Berlin
- Died: 1872, New York City
- Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery
- Academic degrees: Doctorate, University of Jena
- Primary Employers: University of South Carolina, Columbia University
- Notable Publication: General Orders No. 100 (Lieber Code)
- Membership: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Citizenship: United States; Kingdom of Prussia
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the Lieber Code?
It served as the first modern codification of the laws of war and battlefield conduct for the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Where did Francis Lieber teach during his career?
He served on the faculty of the University of South Carolina starting in 1835 and later joined Columbia University in 1857, eventually transferring to its law school.
Achievements
- Held posts at Columbia University and University of South Carolina
- Fields: philosophy, political philosophy and law
