Edward Mitchell (New York politician)

Edward Mitchell (April 15, 1842 – February 15, 1909) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. A Republican, He was a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia Law School. Mitchell was most notable for his service in the New York State Assembly in 1880, and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1889 to 1894.

Edward Mitchell
Columbia University Quarterly, June 1909
26th United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
In office
September 16, 1889 – February 1, 1894
Preceded byStephen A. Walker
Succeeded byHenry C. Platt
Member of the New York State Assembly from New York County's 21st District
In office
January 1, 1880 – December 31, 1880
Preceded byJ. C. Julius Langbein
Succeeded byWilliam J. Trimble
Personal details
Born(1842-04-15)April 15, 1842
New York City, New York, US
DiedFebruary 15, 1909(1909-02-15) (aged 66)
New York City, New York
Resting placeWoodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCaroline C. Woolsey (m. 1867-1909, his death)
Children1
RelativesJohn M. Mitchell (brother)
EducationColumbia College
Columbia Law School
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
New York
Branch/serviceNew York National Guard
Years of service1881–1886
RankLieutenant Colonel
Unit1st Division

Early life

Mitchell was born on April 15, 1842, on Charlton Street in New York City, New York,[1] the eldest son of Edward Mitchell, a lawyer and judge who served on the New York Supreme Court and the New York Court of Appeals, and Mary P. Berrian.[2] His brother was congressman John M. Mitchell.[3]

Mitchell attended Columbia Grammar School from 1854 to 1857. He then went to Columbia College in 1857,[4] graduating from there with a B.A. in 1861.

Start of career

He then went to Columbia Law School, but he left that year to serve in the American Civil War a volunteer field agent for the United States Sanitary Commission. He served in Richmond, Antietam, Port Hudson, and the Red River expedition. Afterwards, he finished his studies at Columbia Law School, graduating from there with an LL.B. in 1865. He was admitted to the bar later that year and practiced law. In 1867, he married Caroline Carson Woolsey. They had a daughter, Eliza.[5]

In 1879, Mitchell was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing the New York County 21st District. He served in the Assembly in 1880.[4] In 1880, he became a trustee of Columbia.[6] From 1881 to 1886, he was a lieutenant colonel in the New York National Guard and a Judge Advocate of the 1st Division. In 1883 and 1886, he unsuccessfully ran for the New York Supreme Court.

Later career

In 1889, President Harrison appointed him United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He served in the office until 1894. In 1897, he briefly served as New York City Commissioner of Parks. For many years, he was also senior member of the law firm Mitchell & Mitchell.[7]

Civic and professional memberships

Mitchell was an incorporator of the University Club. He was a member of the American Geographical Society.[2] He was a member of the New York City Bar Association, serving as its treasurer from 1874 to 1885 and vice-president from vice-president from 1885 to 1886. He was also a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Metropolitan Club, the Union League Club, the Tuxedo Club, the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Club.

Death and burial

Mitchell died at his Manhattan home on February 15, 1909.[8] He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

References
  1. The Association of the Bar of the City of New York Yearbook, 1910. New York, N.Y. 1910. pp. 140–142 – via Google Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. Prominent Families of New York (Revised ed.). New York, N.Y.: The Historical Company. 1898. p. 407 – via Google Books.
  3. Herringshaw, Thomas William, ed. (1904). Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century. Chicago, I.L.: American Publishers Association. p. 664 – via Google Books.
  4. The Evening Journal Almanac, 1880. 1880. p. 126 – via Internet Archive.
  5. Leonard, John W., ed. (1907). Who's Who in New York City and State (Third ed.). New York, N.Y.: L. R. Hamersly & Company. p. 941 – via Google Books.
  6. Van Amringe, John Howard (June 1909). "Edward Mitchell". Columbia University Quarterly. Columbia University Press. XI (3): 342–343 – via Google Books.
  7. Proceedings of the Thirty-Third Annual Meeting of the New York State Bar Association. Albany, N.Y.: The Argus Company. 1910. pp. 545–547 – via Google Books.
  8. "Edward Mitchell". New-York Tribune. Vol. LXVIII, no. 22738. New York, N.Y. 16 February 1909. p. 7 – via Chronicling America.
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