Leonard Swett

Leonard Swett (August 11, 1825 – June 8, 1889) was a civil and criminal lawyer who advised and assisted Abraham Lincoln throughout the president's political career.

Swett was born in 1825 near Turner, Maine and educated at North Yarmouth Academy and Colby College, although he did not earn a degree.

[2][3][4][5][6][7] At the time Lincoln signed the order seizing the mine, unbeknownst to him, the matter was still in litigation before the United States Supreme Court.

The sweeping order, which could arguably be viewed as assertion of the right to seize any mining property on the lands of the United States, was received with dismay and outrage in California and Nevada.

"[8] Lincoln, mindful of confederate sentiment in California, apologized and attempted to explain the limited nature of the warrant.