Phoebe Couzins – Lady Law
Phoebe Couzins stands as a pivotal figure in American legal and social history, a woman who shattered glass ceilings and defied societal expectations. As one of the first female lawyers in the United States, the first woman appointed as a U.S. Marshal, and a prominent voice in the women’s suffrage movement, Phoebe Couzins forged a path toward greater rights and equality for women. Her life, marked by both triumph and tribulation, offers a compelling narrative of ambition, advocacy, and the complex realities of being a female pioneer in a male-dominated world.
Born on September 8, 1842, in St. Louis, Missouri, Phoebe Couzins was the daughter of Adaline and John E.D. Couzins. Her father, an accomplished architect and builder, instilled in her a sense of structure and design, while her mother, a dedicated philanthropist, demonstrated the profound impact of public service. From a young age, Phoebe absorbed the values of community engagement and civic responsibility that would later define her own career. The city of St. Louis itself, a bustling hub of commerce and immigration, provided a vibrant backdrop for her formative years.
The devastating cholera epidemic of 1849 left an indelible mark on the young Phoebe Couzins. As thousands of St. Louis residents succumbed to the disease, her parents stepped forward to lead the local relief effort. John and Adaline Couzins organized assistance for the afflicted, providing food, shelter, and medical care during a time of widespread fear and uncertainty. This experience exposed Phoebe to the harsh realities of life and the importance of compassion and collective action in the face of adversity.
The tumultuous years of the Civil War further shaped Couzins’ worldview. Her father served as the St. Louis Chief of Police and a member of the Committee of Public Safety, working tirelessly to maintain Missouri’s allegiance to the Union. Meanwhile, her mother volunteered as a nurse, tending to wounded soldiers and civilians, and actively participated in the Ladies Union Aid Society, an organization dedicated to supporting the Union cause. These wartime experiences solidified Phoebe’s commitment to justice, equality, and the preservation of the Union.
Following the Civil War, Adaline and Phoebe Couzins joined the St. Louis Woman Suffrage Association, a pivotal moment that ignited Phoebe’s passion for women’s rights. The organization advocated for women’s right to vote and hold political office, challenging the prevailing social norms that relegated women to a subordinate role in society. Inspired by her mother’s activism and fueled by her own sense of injustice, Phoebe embarked on a journey that would position her as a leading figure in the burgeoning women’s suffrage movement.
In 1869, Phoebe Couzins embarked on her legal education at Washington University in St. Louis, one of the first institutions in the nation to open its doors to female students seeking a jurisprudence education. This bold decision marked a significant step toward breaking down barriers in the legal profession. That same year, Couzins attended the American Equal Rights Association convention in St. Louis, where she encountered influential suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Inspired by their unwavering dedication and radical ideas, Couzins joined the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), an organization formed by Stanton and Anthony due to their dissatisfaction with existing women’s spirituality organizations. She also began contributing articles to their publication, "The Revolution," and embarked on a national speaking tour, passionately advocating for women’s rights and equality. Her compelling oratory skills and unwavering conviction quickly established her as a powerful voice in the movement.
In 1871, Phoebe Couzins achieved a remarkable milestone, graduating from law school as the first female law graduate of Washington University and the second woman in the nation to earn such a distinction. At her graduation celebration, she articulated her motivation for pursuing a legal career, stating that she was driven "solely by a desire to open new paths for women." Throughout her career, she was admitted to the bar associations of Missouri, Arkansas, Utah, and Kansas, as well as the Dakota Territory federal courts, demonstrating her legal acumen and unwavering determination to practice law in various jurisdictions.
The 1876 Democratic National Convention in St. Louis provided Phoebe Couzins with a prominent platform to advocate for women’s suffrage on a national stage. Addressing the male convention delegates on behalf of the National Woman Suffrage Association, Couzins passionately implored the Democratic Party to support women’s suffrage and incorporate it into their political platform. Despite her compelling arguments and the presence of women observing the proceedings from the balconies, the delegates ultimately failed to endorse women’s suffrage, highlighting the formidable challenges faced by the movement.
In 1884, Couzins testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on the legal status of women, further solidifying her role as a leading advocate for women’s rights. That same year, her father’s appointment as the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri led to her appointment as one of his deputies. Following her father’s death in 1887, President Grover Cleveland appointed Couzins as the interim U.S. Marshal, making her the first woman to hold this prestigious position. Although her tenure was brief, lasting only two months before being replaced by John W. Emerson, her appointment represented a significant breakthrough for women in law enforcement.
After her tenure as U.S. Marshal, Couzins relocated to Washington, D.C., where she supported herself as a writer. In 1890, the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) and the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) merged, and Couzins openly supported the NWSA leadership, causing friction with women in both organizations, both locally and nationally. She also served as a Missouri representative on the Board of Lady Managers for the 1893 World’s Columbia Exposition in Chicago, but her attempts to dominate meetings led to her dismissal. She sued for reinstatement but lost.
As she aged, Couzins’s strong personality alienated friends in the women’s suffrage movement. Battling poor health and disillusioned with younger members of the suffragist movement, she denounced the cause, became a national lecturer and lobbyist for the United Brewers Association, and actively protested prohibition. Her actions upset acquaintances in the women’s movement, as temperance was a favorite cause of many suffragists. However, in 1902, Couzins experienced a change of heart and once again supported the suffrage movement.
Couzins lost her job as a lobbyist in 1908. At 68, she found herself penniless, in failing health, and unable to work. She returned to St. Louis and appealed to the federal government for a job and the Brewers Association for aid, also soliciting friends for help. She died in St. Louis on December 6, 1913, and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery wearing her U.S. marshal’s badge. Only her brother and a few friends mourned her, and only six people attended her funeral. Her grave remained unmarked until 1950, when members of the Women’s Bar Association of St. Louis placed a headstone on her final resting place in memory of her accomplishments.
Phoebe Couzins’s life story serves as a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices made by early female pioneers in the legal profession and the broader fight for women’s rights. Despite facing numerous obstacles and experiencing periods of disillusionment, she remained a dedicated advocate for equality and justice. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of women to pursue their dreams, challenge societal norms, and strive for a more equitable world.