Owen A. Galvin
Encyclopedia
Owen A. Galvin was an American attorney and politician who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1887 to 1890.
in 1876 and was admitted to the bar on February 29 of that year. On July 3, 1879 he married Jennie T. Sullivan. They would go on to have three sons, Stephen P. Galvin, Augustus H. Galvin, and Frederick S. Galvin.
in 1881. He served on the House's committees on education and constitutional amendments.
From 1882 to 1884 he was a member of the Massachusetts Senate
. He served on the Senate's committees on liquor law, labor, education, judiciary, and election laws as well as on the special committee on penal and charitable institutions. In 1884 he was the Democratic candidate for President of the Massachusetts Senate
.
to serve as the Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. When Stearns resigned in September 1887, Galvin was chosen by President Grover Cleveland
to succeed him as United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. He resigned in October 1889, but his resignation was not accepted until May 1890.
.
In 1891 he was appointed by Governor William Russell
to serve on the Charles River
Improvement Commission, who named Galvin their chairman. The Commission's work led to the design initiatives of Charles Eliot, Arthur Shurcliff, and Guy Lowell
. This designed landscape now includes over 20 parks and natural areas along 19 miles (31 km) of shoreline, from the New Dam at the Charlestown
Bridge to the dam near Watertown Square
.
In 1892 he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Nathan Matthews, Jr.
for the Democratic nomination for Mayor.
Early life
Galvin was born on June 21, 1852 to Patrick and Mary (Hughes) Galvin. After attending Boston public schools, he studied law in the office of Charles F. Donnelly. He graduated from Boston University School of LawBoston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
in 1876 and was admitted to the bar on February 29 of that year. On July 3, 1879 he married Jennie T. Sullivan. They would go on to have three sons, Stephen P. Galvin, Augustus H. Galvin, and Frederick S. Galvin.
Massachusetts General Court
Galvin was elected to the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesMassachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
in 1881. He served on the House's committees on education and constitutional amendments.
From 1882 to 1884 he was a member of the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
. He served on the Senate's committees on liquor law, labor, education, judiciary, and election laws as well as on the special committee on penal and charitable institutions. In 1884 he was the Democratic candidate for President of the Massachusetts Senate
President of the Massachusetts Senate
The President of the Massachusetts Senate is the presiding officer. In the United States Congress, the Vice President of the United States is the ex officio President of the United States Senate. In Massachusetts, however, the President of the Senate is elected from and by the Senators...
.
United States Attorney
In July 1886, Galvin was appointed by George M. StearnsGeorge M. Stearns
George Monroe Stearns was an American attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1886 to 1887.-Early life:Stearns was born on April 18, 1831 in Stoughton, Massachusetts...
to serve as the Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. When Stearns resigned in September 1887, Galvin was chosen by President 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...
to succeed him as United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. He resigned in October 1889, but his resignation was not accepted until May 1890.
Later career
In 1889, Galvin was a candidate for Mayor of Boston. He won the Democratic nomination, but lost to Republican incumbent Thomas N. HartThomas N. Hart
Thomas Norton Hart was an American manufacturer, businessman, and politician from Massachusetts who served as mayor of Boston from 1889 to 1890 and from 1900 to 1902.- References :...
.
In 1891 he was appointed by Governor William Russell
William Russell (governor)
William Eustis Russell was a U.S. political figure. He served as the 37th Governor of Massachusetts between 1891 and 1894, becoming the state's youngest ever elected Governor at age 34.-Family:...
to serve on the Charles River
Charles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
Improvement Commission, who named Galvin their chairman. The Commission's work led to the design initiatives of Charles Eliot, Arthur Shurcliff, and Guy Lowell
Guy Lowell
Guy Lowell , American architect, was the son of Mary Walcott and Edward Jackson Lowell, and a member of Boston's well-known Lowell family....
. This designed landscape now includes over 20 parks and natural areas along 19 miles (31 km) of shoreline, from the New Dam at the Charlestown
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
Bridge to the dam near Watertown Square
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
.
In 1892 he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Nathan Matthews, Jr.
Nathan Matthews, Jr.
Nathan Matthews, Jr. was an American politician from Massachusetts who served as Mayor of Boston from 1891–1894.-Biography:...
for the Democratic nomination for Mayor.