American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts

Sharswood served in the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1837 and on the Select Council of Philadelphia, 1839-1840. He was Editor of The American Law Magazine from 1843-1846. An Associate Judge of the District Court of Philadelphia from 1845 and Judge from 1848 to 1867, Sharswood served as Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1868 to 1882. A professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania from 1850 to 1868, Sharswood's ideals for legal education were published in "An Essay of Professional Ethics."