Noted for distribution in America of the "Everyman" series of reprints of English-language classics. He was a member (1852-58) of the firm of Ide and Dutton, Boston booksellers, until he bought out (1858) Ide's interests and reorganized the firm as E. P. Dutton and Company, of which he became president. In 1864 he acquired the retail business of Ticknor and Fields at Boston. He also took over the General Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union and Church Book Society of New York, and in 1869 moved the headquarters of his firm to New York, where it still (1954) remains. NCCN

Grandson of Thomas Dutton who was an officer in the Revolutionary army. He was graduated from Yale in 1818, studied law, 1818-21, and was tutor at Yale, 1821-23. In 1823 he was admitted to the bar and practised at Newtown, Conn., whence he was sent to the legislature for two terms. In 1847 he removed to New Haven to accept the Kent chair of law at Yale, which he held until his death. He was a state senator, 1849-50, a member of the general assembly in 1850, judge of the New Haven county court in 1852, and governor of the state in 1854. He was also judge of the superior court and supreme court of errors, 1861-86. Yale conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in 1822. He published: Digest of the Connecticut Reports (1883); and Swift's Digest Revised (1848). He died in New Haven, Conn., April 12, 1869.