American lawyer, born in Cavan, Ireland, on the 16th of February 1822. He emigrated with his father to Canada, whence he came to New York City, and was a licensed local Methodist preacher. Admitted to the bar in 1846, he made a reputation in extradition cases, and for three years was corporate counsel for New York City. He was a Democrat and a supporter of Douglas, and after the outbreak of the Civil War he strongly supported the Union cause. He was made brigadier-general of volunteers, and was assigned to service at Washington and New York. He commanded a brigade at Yorktown, in Virginia, but resigned on account of the jealousy of his enemies in the Democratic party. In 1864 he was appointed by the President as United States district judge of Alabama, and while occupying this position rendered the decision that the test-oath prescribed by the United States was unnecessary, and unconstitutional as applied to lawyers practicing before the United States courts. This opinion was afterward confirmed by the supreme court. Busteed resigned his office in 1874, and returned to his law practice in New York City.
