John G. Milburn
Encyclopedia
John G. Milburn was a prominent lawyer
in Buffalo, New York
and New York City
, a president of the New York City Bar Association, and a partner at the law firm Carter Ledyard & Milburn
.
, England
in 1851, the son of a civil engineer
. In his youth, he studied civil engineering at the insistence of his father. However, at the age of eighteen his sister wrote to him from Batavia, New York urging him to emigrate
to America
, which he did the following year.
in 1876 and practiced law alone until 1879, when he formed the law firm
Sprague, Milburn & Sprague with Hon. E.C. Sprague and Henry W. Sprague. In 1882, after a year in Denver, Colorado
, Milburn returned to Buffalo to form the law firm Rogers, Locke & Milburn with Sherman Rogers and Francis Locke.
in Buffalo. He was also a prominent Democrat
and a personal friend of Grover Cleveland
.
Milburn is perhaps best known as the chairman of the Pan-American Exposition
, the 1901 World’s Fair in Buffalo. After President
William McKinley
was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz
at the Exposition on September 5, 1901, he was brought to Milburn’s home were he later died. The house became a popular tourist site, before it was converted into a hotel and later demolished in 1957.
, Milburn joined the New York City law firm of Carter, Ledyard & Robbins, which became Carter, Ledyard & Milburn upon his joining. There, Milburn represented many high profile clients, including Standard Oil
, the New York Stock Exchange
, and the Metropolitan Street Railway. He also served as president of the New York City Bar Association from 1920 to 1921.
Hotel while on a trip to London
, England
. He was 78 years old.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a president of the New York City Bar Association, and a partner at the law firm Carter Ledyard & Milburn
Carter Ledyard & Milburn
Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP is a New York City law firm. It has more than 100 attorneys with offices in New York and Washington, D.C..The firm was founded in 1854 by Henry Scudder and James C. Carter. Those partners along with Henry’s younger brother Townsend, who subsequently joined the firm,...
.
Early life
Milburn was born near SunderlandCity of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1851, the son of a civil engineer
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
. In his youth, he studied civil engineering at the insistence of his father. However, at the age of eighteen his sister wrote to him from Batavia, New York urging him to emigrate
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which he did the following year.
Early career
In 1867, he arrived in Batavia to study law with the firm of Wakeman & Watson. Though he was initially denied entrance to the bar because he was not an American citizen, several influential acquaintances successfully petitioned the New York State Legislature for an exception based on his intention to seek citizenship. He was granted admission to the bar in 1874. Milburn moved to Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in 1876 and practiced law alone until 1879, when he formed the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
Sprague, Milburn & Sprague with Hon. E.C. Sprague and Henry W. Sprague. In 1882, after a year in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Milburn returned to Buffalo to form the law firm Rogers, Locke & Milburn with Sherman Rogers and Francis Locke.
Citizen of Buffalo
Milburn was a prominent citizen of Buffalo, serving as president of the Buffalo Club, a member of the executive board of the Buffalo Public Library, and a trustee of the Erie County and City HallCounty and City Hall
County and City Hall, also known as Erie County Hall, is a historic city hall and courthouse building located at Buffalo in Erie County, New York. It is a monumental granite structure designed by noted Rochester architect Andrew Jackson Warner and constructed between 1871 and 1875. The building...
in Buffalo. He was also a prominent Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and a personal friend of Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
.
Milburn is perhaps best known as the chairman of the Pan-American Exposition
Pan-American Exposition
The Pan-American Exposition was a World's Fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied of land on the western edge of what is present day Delaware Park, extending from Delaware Ave. to Elmwood Ave and northward to Great Arrow...
, the 1901 World’s Fair in Buffalo. After President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz
Leon Czolgosz
Leon Czolgosz was the assassin of U.S. President William McKinley.In the last few years of his life, he claimed to have been heavily influenced by anarchists such as Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman.- Early life :...
at the Exposition on September 5, 1901, he was brought to Milburn’s home were he later died. The house became a popular tourist site, before it was converted into a hotel and later demolished in 1957.
Later career
In 1904, at the invitation of the prominent attorney Lewis Cass LedyardLewis Cass Ledyard
Lewis Cass Ledyard was a New York City lawyer, a name partner at the firm Carter Ledyard & Milburn, personal counsel to J.P. Morgan, and a president of the New York City Bar Association.-Early life:...
, Milburn joined the New York City law firm of Carter, Ledyard & Robbins, which became Carter, Ledyard & Milburn upon his joining. There, Milburn represented many high profile clients, including Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
, and the Metropolitan Street Railway. He also served as president of the New York City Bar Association from 1920 to 1921.
Death
Milburn died on August 11, 1930, at Claridge'sClaridge's
Claridge's is a luxury hotel in Mayfair, central London. It is located at the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street.-History:Claridge's is a traditional grand hotel. Its extensive and old connections with royalty have led to it being referred to as an "extension to Buckingham Palace"...
Hotel while on a trip to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was 78 years old.
Sources
- Mark Goldman. High Hopes: The Rise and Decline of Buffalo, New York. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1983.
- “John G. Milburn Dead in London; Famous New York Lawyer Stricken at Claridge’s in 79th Year.” ‘’The New York Times’’. August 12, 1930.
- “Milburn Home, Where President M’Kinley Died, Is an Object of Interest These Days.” Buffalo Courier 21 Oct. 1901.
- “The Milburn Home.” New York Times 7 Sept. 1901
- Truman C. White (ed). “Milburn, John G..” Our County and Its People. Vol. 2. [n.p.]: Boston History, 1898: part III, p. 33