Anthony Quinton Keasbey (March 1, 1824 – April 4, 1895) was an American lawyer who served as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey under seven presidents. In addition he authored a book on poetry called From the Hudson to the St. Johns and Home Flowers: Pressed in My Law-books. He was also a part of the writing of Marching Song of the First Arkansas, in addition he wrote a law book called Slavery in New Jersey.
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Early life
Keasbey was born March 1, 1824, to Dr. Edward Keasbey and Mary Parry, the second of five siblings in Salem, New Jersey, a town colonized by his ancestors. In 1843 he graduated from Yale University, and soon after became a law student in the office of Francis L. McCulloch. He finished his studies in Newark, New Jersey, and in October 1846, was admitted to the bar. He entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1855 he entered into a partnership with Courtlandt Parker, a relation would last for over twenty years.
U.S. attorney
In April 1861, he received the appointment of U.S. attorney for the district of New Jersey from President Lincoln, and in 1865 was reappointed. It was discovered, however, after Lincoln's death, that the commission for his 1865 reappointment had not been signed, and Keasbey was thereupon appointed by President Johnson until the next session of the senate. In 1866, he was regularly commissioned for another term of four years. In 1870 he was reappointed by President Grant, and again in 1874. In 1879 the office was once more accorded to him for a term of four years. He thus held this position continuously from the spring of 1861 to that of 1886, a period of unbroken incumbency longer than that of any other U.S. district attorney in the Union.