New York's first African-American law school graduate. His family moved to Albany when he was a boy, and he attended Public School 4, and graduated from Albany Academy in 1864. He worked as a clerk at Albany's Congress Hotel, and later worked as a bookkeeper. Matthews later entered Albany Law School, graduated in 1870, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Albany. Matthews became active in politics as a Republican, as were most African-Americans of the late 1800s, but he later became a Democrat. In 1885 President Grover Cleveland nominated Matthews to serve as Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia, a position previously held by Frederick Douglass. He held the position for several months because of a recess appointment, but the Republican-controlled US Senate refused to confirm him because of accusations that he had attempted to coerce other African-Americans in Albany to switch their allegiance to the Democratic Party in local elections. In 1895 he was elected Judge of Albany's Recorder’s Court, the highest judicial position an African-American had held in the United States up to that time. He served until 1899, when Albany's Republican party won the municipal elections and reclaimed control of city hall. Matthews then resumed the practice of law, and remained active until he retired in the early 1920s.
New York's first African-American law school graduate. His family moved to Albany when he was a boy, and he attended Public School 4, and graduated from Albany Academy in 1864. He worked as a clerk at Albany's Congress Hotel, and later worked as a bookkeeper. Matthews later entered Albany Law School, graduated in 1870, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Albany. Matthews became active in politics as a Republican, as were most African-Americans of the late 1800s, but he later became a Democrat. In 1885 President Grover Cleveland nominated Matthews to serve as Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia, a position previously held by Frederick Douglass. He held the position for several months because of a recess appointment, but the Republican-controlled US Senate refused to confirm him because of accusations that he had attempted to coerce other African-Americans in Albany to switch their allegiance to the Democratic Party in local elections. In 1895 he was elected Judge of Albany's Recorder’s Court, the highest judicial position an African-American had held in the United States up to that time. He served until 1899, when Albany's Republican party won the municipal elections and reclaimed control of city hall. Matthews then resumed the practice of law, and remained active until he retired in the early 1920s.
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