Myra Clark Gaines, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Myra Clark Gaines

Plaintiff in the longest lawsuit in US history

Date of Birth: 30-Jun-1804

Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Date of Death: 09-Jan-1885

Profession: socialite

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Myra Clark Gaines (c.
June 30, 1804 – January 9, 1885) was an American socialite and plaintiff in the longest-running lawsuit in the history of the United States court system.
From 1834 to 1891, Gaines was at the center of a legal battle to recognize her legal status as the sole heir of her deceased father's estate and recover valuable land in New Orleans.
During its 57-year history in the courtroom, the Gaines cases appeared before the Supreme Court seventeen times and Louisiana state and federal court at least seventy times.
The Gaines cases are notable not only because of their length and complexity but also due to the controversial image and perseverance of Myra Clark Gaines herself, particularly at a time when women were confined to a domestic, dutiful ideal of femininity.