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George J. West
George J. West was born in Providence, RI on September 19, 1852, son of John and Catherine (Cavanaugh) West. He acquired his early education in the public schools and graduated from Brown University in 1876. He then attended the Law School at Boston University and graduated in 1878. He returned to Providence and opened a law office. Eventually his brothers, Ambrose E. and Thomas F. both joined him in his practice.
A persistent student widely read and possessing an amazing wealth of general information made Mr. West an acute lawyer and a brilliant and magnetic advocate. He was highly regarded by his peers, superiors and even his competitors in the legal profession.
Mr. West’s untimely death on July 21, 1896, at the age of 44 was a great loss to his community. He was a man who assertively defended his clients’ rights against the encroachments of corporations and was one of the staunchest and most valuable friends of the public schools. He was also actively prominent in all matters relative to the fostering of Catholic institutions and was involved in the building of Blessed Sacrament Church located in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. He also fought to provide free textbooks to the children in the Providence Schools.
-- Rhode Island Historical Society News series Volume V, 1897
