Ralph Lazier Berkshire

Ralph Lazier Berkshire
Member of the Wheeling Convention
In office
May 13, 1861  May 15, 1861
Judge West Virginia Court of Appeals
In office
June 20, 1863  December 31, 1866
Preceded byn/a
Succeeded byEdwin Maxwell
Judge West Virginia Court of Appeals
In office
September 10, 1868  December 31, 1872
Preceded byWilliam A. Harrison
Succeeded byJames Paull
West Virginia Senate from Monongalia County
In office
1874–1878
Personal details
Born(1815-04-08)April 8, 1815
Bedford County, Pennsylvania, US
DiedNovember 8, 1902(1902-11-08) (aged 87)
Morgantown, US
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionPolitician, lawyer, judge

Ralph Lazier Berkshire (born April 8, 1815 or 1816; died November 8, 1902) was a lawyer, judge, and Republican politician who helped found the state of West Virginia and became the first chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (from June 20, 1863 to December 31, 1866). Although defeated for re-election, Berkshire again served from September 10, 1868 until December 31, 1872, and later represented Monongalia County in the West Virginia Senate (1874–1878) as well as continuing to practice law.