Joseph M. Carey
Encyclopedia
Joseph Maull Carey was a lawyer
, rancher, judge
, and politician
, who spent most of his political career in Wyoming
before and after it achieved statehood.
and was educated in Fort Edward Collegiate Institute and Union College
before graduating from the law department at the University of Pennsylvania
at Philadelphia in 1864. He was admitted to the bar three years later, in 1867.
Shortly afterwards, he struck west and became the first United States Attorney
for the Territory of Wyoming
from its organization and served in that capacity from 1869 to 1871. He subsequently became an associate justice
in the Supreme Court of the Territory of Wyoming. He served the court from 1871 to 1876 before retiring from the bench to become a rancher.
Afterwards, he began to enter politics, first as a member of the Centennial Commission from 1872 to 1876, and then as a member of the Republican National Committee
from 1876 to 1879. He was subsequently elected as mayor
of Cheyenne, Wyoming
(from 1881 to 1885) and then was elected to the United States House of Representatives
representing the Territory of Wyoming from 1885 to 1890. When the territory became a state, he was elected to the United States Senate
from 1890 to 1895. In 1895 however, he failed in a run for re-election and returned to the practice of law. He did not reenter politics until 1911 when he made a successful campaign to be Governor of Wyoming.
In 1912, he abandoned his Republican
party and was one of the organizers of the Progressive Party
which sought to re-elect Theodore Roosevelt
. He also served as the vice president of the Federal Land Bank and a member of the board of trustees of the University of Wyoming
at Laramie
.
He died in Cheyenne, Wyoming, aged 79.
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...
, rancher, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who spent most of his political career in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
before and after it achieved statehood.
Biography
Carey was born January 19, 1845 in Milton, DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and was educated in Fort Edward Collegiate Institute and Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
before graduating from the law department at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
at Philadelphia in 1864. He was admitted to the bar three years later, in 1867.
Shortly afterwards, he struck west and became the first United States Attorney
United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Wyoming and those portions of Yellowstone National Park situated in Montana and Idaho...
for the Territory of Wyoming
Wyoming Territory
The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital...
from its organization and served in that capacity from 1869 to 1871. He subsequently became an associate justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
in the Supreme Court of the Territory of Wyoming. He served the court from 1871 to 1876 before retiring from the bench to become a rancher.
Afterwards, he began to enter politics, first as a member of the Centennial Commission from 1872 to 1876, and then as a member of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
from 1876 to 1879. He was subsequently elected as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
(from 1881 to 1885) and then was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
representing the Territory of Wyoming from 1885 to 1890. When the territory became a state, he was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1890 to 1895. In 1895 however, he failed in a run for re-election and returned to the practice of law. He did not reenter politics until 1911 when he made a successful campaign to be Governor of Wyoming.
In 1912, he abandoned his Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
party and was one of the organizers of the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
which sought to re-elect Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. He also served as the vice president of the Federal Land Bank and a member of the board of trustees of the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
at Laramie
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
.
He died in Cheyenne, Wyoming, aged 79.
Sources
- American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; Peters, Betsy R. Joseph M. Carey and The Progressive Movement in Wyoming. (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Wyoming at Laramie, 1971).