Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Christopher Columbus Langdell (May 22, 1826 - July 6, 1906), American jurist, was born in the town of New Boston, New Hampshire, of English and Scots- Irish ancestry. Langdell's core legacy is his influence on the teaching of law. Before Langdell's tenure, the study of law was a technical pursuit. Students were told what the law is.