James McMillan (1838 - 1902)

Born 12 May 1838 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Upper Canada

Descendants

Died 10 Aug 1902 at age 64 in Manchester, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Marc Seguin [send private message]

James McMillan is Notable.

Preceded by Thomas W. Palmer

James McMillan US Senator (Class 2) from Michigan[1] 1889—1902

Succeeded by Russell A. Alger

Biography

Parents of James were William and Grace McMillan, both Scottish natives

Excerpt from Wikipedia

McMillan's first position was as a clerk for Buhl, Ducharme & Co., a wholesale hardware firm. At the age of 20, he left to become the purchasing agent for the Detroit & Milwaukee Railway. In 1863, he helped, along with John Stoughton Newberry, to organize the Michigan Car Company for the manufacture of freight cars. This business grew very rapidly, and in ten years it was one of the largest in the United States. Its success led to the formation of the Detroit Car Wheel Co., the Baugh Steam Forge Co., the Detroit Iron Furnace Co., and the Vulcan Furnace Co. He was also a major shareholder in the Detroit City Railway.

McMillan later built and became president of the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway. He was largely interested in shipbuilding and lake transportation companies. He was one of the largest owners of the Detroit and Cleveland Steam Navigation Co., and the Detroit Transportation Co., and was a director of several banks in Detroit. For three years he was president of the Detroit Board of Park Commissioners and for four years a member of the Detroit Board of Estimates. In 1886, he joined with John S. Newberry in contributing $100,000 each for the maintenance of a hospital in Detroit.

McMillan was the only person to be elected Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party three non-consecutive times (1879, 1886 and 1890). He was a presidential elector on the Republican ticket in 1884. He was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1889 and was reelected in 1895 and 1901, serving from March 4, 1889, until his death.

He is also remembered for his chairmanship of the Senate Park Improvement Commission of the District of Columbia (better known as the McMillan Commission)

Children of James and Lucy Wetmore McMillan

1. William Charles
2. Grace Fisher
3. James Howard
4. Amy
5. Philip Hamilton
6. Francis Wetmore

Sources

1. ↑ Died in office, vacant August 10, 1902 – September 27, 1902 when successor appointed.

• Find A Grave Memorial# 7253789
• James McMillan (politician) on Wikipedia
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress