William Austin Dickinson

Common card · No. 307936

William Austin Dickinson (April 16, 1829 – August 16, 1895) was an American lawyer who lived and worked in Amherst, Massachusetts. Known to family and friends as "Austin", he was, notably, the older brother of poet Emily Dickinson. After graduating from both Williston Seminary and Amherst College, where he was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi, Dickinson taught briefly before pursuing a legal education. He attended Harvard Law School, then joined his father, Edward Dickinson, in his law practice. After his father's death, Austin became treasurer of Amherst College from 1873 until his death. In addition to his law practice and treasury work, Dickinson took part in numerous civic projects and responsibilities, such as moderating the town meetings from 1881 until his death, and acting as president of the Village Improvement Association. He was responsible for getting Frederick Law Olmsted to design the Amherst Common, and was instrumental in the development of Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst...

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