William Chrowinshield Endicott

Military

"A typical living and forceful representative of what we call the "old New England families" is William C. Endicott. He is a direct descendant of Gov. John Endicott, the colonial ruler of Massachusetts, who died in Boston in 1665, and who was certainly a Puritan of the Puritans. He is a grandson of that Jacob Crowninshield who was prominent as a congressman, and who was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Jefferson, but who died before entering upon the discharge of his duties. Of the same type as these men is the one who was Secretary of War during the first administration of President Cleveland. He was born in Salem, MA November 19, 1827. He graduated at Harvard in 1847, and after a law school course was admitted to the bar in 1850. He rapidly acquired a position as a young man of judgment and ability, and was elected a member of the Salem common council in 1852, five years later becoming city solicitor. He retired from that office in 1864 and resumed practice, but in 1873 was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. This office he held for ten years, resigning at the end of that time on account of ill health. He had remained something of a figure in politics. He was originally a Whig, but with the termination of that organization became a Democrat, and was in 1884, an unsuccessful candidate for governor of Massachusetts. In 1885 he was appointed by President Cleveland Secretary of War and served out the term of office. He has not of late actively engaged in Democratic political affairs in his state, but is at all times a possibility with his party and a recognized leader in every important movement."

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