Social Reformer and Lawyer. Born in New York City, he was the son of William Gerard, a reputable merchant. James would graduate from Columbia College in 1811. Soon after his graduation he enrolled in volunteer company called “The Iron Greys.”  A raised defense of harbor during the war with Great Britain. He then began to study law and was considered one of the best trial lawyer of his time, he advocated for law reform and was one of the first advocates of youth offender rehabilitation, which lead to his founded of the first juvenile facility in the United States, known as “The house of refuge for juvenile delinquents”. He was also the first to publicaly advocate uniforms for all law officers. He was married to Eliza Sumner and they would raise three children, she would die in 1866. He was an efficient service inspector for the schools in his later years. He died at the age of 80 in New York. (bio by: Shock)