Ambrose Tighe
Encyclopedia
Ambrose Tighe was an American
lawyer
, politician
, and academic from Minnesota
. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law
.
in the early nineteenth century. His father James was also a lawyer, educated at New York University
, although he did not practice extensively, focusing instead on a career in business. Tighe attended preparatory school at Adelphi Academy
and in 1879 graduated from Yale University
, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Skull and Bones
secret society.
. He read law there and was admitted to the state bar in 1880. In June of the same year he was elected the Douglas Fellow at Yale, which allowed him to continue his academic studies at the school. In January 1882, the college made him a lecturer in the Latin Department, and he taught courses on Roman Law
until June 1885. Tighe published his notes the following year in a book entitled, The Development of the Roman Constitution. It was a popular textbook in the subject at Yale and other Ivy League
colleges. In recognition of his work in Roman history, Yale awarded him an M.A. in 1891.
After further reading law in New York City
, Tighe moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1886, where he embarked upon an impressive career. In 1890, he was named general counsel for Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and in 1900 he accepted the same position at the Eastman Kodak Company. Tighe served in the Minnesota House of Representatives
from 1903 to 1909. This was followed in 1917 by a two-year engagement as lead counsel for the infamous Minnesota Commission of Public Safety, then a term as president of the Minnesota State Bar Association
in 1920 and an appointment as St. Paul City Attorney from 1920 to 1928.
In 1900, while President of the Ramsey County
Bar Association, he and Hiram F. Stevens
, Moses Clapp, Thomas D. O'Brien
, and Clarence Halbert
founded the St. Paul College of Law, the first predecessor school of William Mitchell College of Law
. Tighe served on the Board of Trustees and taught courses there on public corporations until his death in 1928.
, Cass Gilbert
, Judge Walter Henry Sanborn
, General Wesley Merritt
, Congressman Thomas Wilson
, and Justice William B. Mitchell
. Tighe was also close with President William Howard Taft
(S&B 1878) and U.S. Solicitor General Lloyd Wheaton Bowers
(S&B 1879).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
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...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and academic from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law, or WMCL, is a private, independent law school located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Accredited by the American Bar Association , it offers full and part-time legal education in pursuit of the Juris Doctor degree....
.
Early life
Tighe was a first-generation American, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His grandfather, an Episcopalian missionary, had emigrated there from Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in the early nineteenth century. His father James was also a lawyer, educated at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, although he did not practice extensively, focusing instead on a career in business. Tighe attended preparatory school at Adelphi Academy
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
and in 1879 graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
secret society.
Career
After graduating from Yale, he briefly worked as a reporter for the New York Tribune, and then relocated to Frankfort, KentuckyFrankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
. He read law there and was admitted to the state bar in 1880. In June of the same year he was elected the Douglas Fellow at Yale, which allowed him to continue his academic studies at the school. In January 1882, the college made him a lecturer in the Latin Department, and he taught courses on Roman Law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
until June 1885. Tighe published his notes the following year in a book entitled, The Development of the Roman Constitution. It was a popular textbook in the subject at Yale and other Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
colleges. In recognition of his work in Roman history, Yale awarded him an M.A. in 1891.
After further reading law in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Tighe moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1886, where he embarked upon an impressive career. In 1890, he was named general counsel for Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and in 1900 he accepted the same position at the Eastman Kodak Company. Tighe served in the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
from 1903 to 1909. This was followed in 1917 by a two-year engagement as lead counsel for the infamous Minnesota Commission of Public Safety, then a term as president of the Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
The Minnesota State Bar Association is a professional association of lawyers, judges, and other legal practitioners, such as clerks, registrars, and paralegals. The MSBA is one of the oldest state bar associations in the United States. The association was organized in 1883 and claims a membership...
in 1920 and an appointment as St. Paul City Attorney from 1920 to 1928.
In 1900, while President of the Ramsey County
Ramsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
Bar Association, he and Hiram F. Stevens
Hiram F. Stevens
Hiram Fairchild Stevens was an American lawyer, politician, and academic from Minnesota. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law and a charter member of the American Bar Association....
, Moses Clapp, Thomas D. O'Brien
Thomas D. O'Brien
Thomas D. O'Brien was an American lawyer, judge, and academic from Minnesota. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law and a justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court....
, and Clarence Halbert
Clarence Halbert
Clarence Wells Halbert was an American lawyer and academic from Minnesota. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law....
founded the St. Paul College of Law, the first predecessor school of William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law, or WMCL, is a private, independent law school located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Accredited by the American Bar Association , it offers full and part-time legal education in pursuit of the Juris Doctor degree....
. Tighe served on the Board of Trustees and taught courses there on public corporations until his death in 1928.
Influence
Tighe was very well-connected, considered to be one the social elites in St. Paul at the turn of the twentieth century. One of his many affiliations was with The Informal Club, a small organization whose members included James J. HillJames J. Hill
James Jerome Hill , was a Canadian-American railroad executive. He was the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest...
, Cass Gilbert
Cass Gilbert
- Historical impact :Gilbert is considered a skyscraper pioneer; when designing the Woolworth Building he moved into unproven ground — though he certainly was aware of the ground-breaking work done by Chicago architects on skyscrapers and once discussed merging firms with the legendary Daniel...
, Judge Walter Henry Sanborn
Walter Henry Sanborn
Walter Henry Sanborn was a United States federal judge.Born in Epsom, New Hampshire, Sanborn received an A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1867 and an A.M. from Dartmouth College in 1870. He was a high school teacher and principal in Milford, New Hampshire from 1867 to 1870. He read law to enter the...
, General Wesley Merritt
Wesley Merritt
Wesley Merritt was a general in the United States Army during the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. He is noted for distinguished service in the cavalry.-Early life:...
, Congressman Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson (Minnesota)
Thomas Wilson was an American lawyer, Minnesota congressman and state legislator, associate justice and the 2nd chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court....
, and Justice William B. Mitchell
William B. Mitchell
William Mitchell was a distinguished American lawyer and judge from Minnesota. He was the namesake of William Mitchell College of Law and father of William DeWitt Mitchell, U.S. Attorney General during the Hoover Administration.- Early life :Mitchell was born to Scottish immigrants in Ontario,...
. Tighe was also close with President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
(S&B 1878) and U.S. Solicitor General Lloyd Wheaton Bowers
Lloyd Wheaton Bowers
Lloyd Wheaton Bowers was an American lawyer.Bowers was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of Samuel Dwight and Martha Wheaton Bowers...
(S&B 1879).
Publications
- The Theory and Law of Water Works Securities, 13 Yale L.J. 165 (1903).
- The Theory of the Minnesota 'Safety Commission' Act, 3 Minn. L. Rev. 1 (1918).