Samuel J. R. McMillan

Samuel James Renwick McMillan
United States Senator from Minnesota
In office March 4, 1875 – March 4, 1887
Preceded by	Alexander Ramsey
Succeeded by	Cushman Kellogg Davis
Personal details
Born	February 22, 1826 Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Died	October 3, 1897 (aged 71) Saint Paul, Minnesota
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Harriet Butler
Military service
Service/branch	Stillwater Frontier Guards
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Battles/wars	Dakota War of 1862

Samuel James Renwick McMillan (February 22, 1826 – October 3, 1897) was an American lawyer, judge and Republican politician. He served on the Minnesota District Court, the Minnesota Supreme Court and as U.S. Senator from Minnesota.

Life and career

McMillan was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania in 1826. His parents Thomas Long and Jane McMillan (née Gormly) were of Scottish and Irish ancestry. He attended the Western University of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied law under Edwin M. Stanton, graduating in 1846. In 1850 he married Harriet Butler. McMillan and his wife moved to Minnesota in 1852, initially settling in Stillwater and later moving to St. Paul.^[1][2]

When Minnesota achieved statehood in 1858 McMillan was named as the first judge of the newly formed Minnesota District Court. During the Dakota War of 1862 McMillan served as a Second Lieutenant in a militia unit known as the Stillwater Frontier Guards which was only briefly active.^[2][3] In 1864 he was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court as one of two new justices to replace the recently resigned Justices Charles Eugene Flandrau and Isaac Atwater. In 1874 he was promoted to Chief Justice to replace Christopher G. Ripley who had also resigned. In 1875 the Minnesota Legislature elected him to serve as U.S. Senator. He served in the 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, and 49th United States Congresses from March 4, 1875, to March 4, 1887.^[4][5]

McMillan did not stand for re-election in 1886 and returned to his law practice after the end of his term. He died in Saint Paul on October 3, 1897. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.^[5][6]

References

1. Holmes, Frank R. (1908). Minnesota in Three Centuries. The Publishing Society of Minneapolis. pp. 70–71.
2. "Sergeant Albert Walter McMillan, E Troop, 7th Cavalry – Conspicuous Gallantry". Army at Wounded Knee.
3. Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars, 1861-1865, Volume 1. 1891. p. 804.
4. "Proceedings in Memory of Chief Justice McMillan" (PDF). Minnesota State Law Library.
5. "McMillan, Samuel James Renwick - Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
6. "Samuel James Renwick McMillan (1826 - 1897)". Find A Grave.