Jacob M. Dickinson
Encyclopedia
Jacob McGavock Dickinson (January 30, 1851 – December 13, 1928) was United States Secretary of War
under President William Howard Taft
from 1909 to 1911. He was succeeded by Henry L. Stimson
.
and enlisted at fourteen as a private in the Confederate Army cavalry. He moved with his family to Nashville, Tennessee
, graduated from the University of Nashville
in 1871, and received his master’s degree in 1872. He studied law briefly at Columbia Law School
and continued his studies abroad in Leipzig
and Paris
. He was later admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1874, and married Martha Overton in 1876.
From 1889 to 1893, Dickinson served as president of the Tennessee Bar Association. He served as Assistant Attorney General
of the United States from 1895 to 1897, and afterwards served as attorney for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad from 1897 to 1899. In 1899, he moved to Chicago, Illinois and became general solicitor for the Illinois Central Railroad
, a position he held from 1899 to 1901. Dickinson later became general counsel
for that railroad, a position he held from 1901 to 1909. He was a counsel for the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal in 1903, and was president of the American Bar Association
from 1907–1908. Dickinson helped organize the American Society of International Law
, served on its executive council from 1907 to 1910, and was its vice president in 1910.
From March 12, 1909 to May 21, 1911, Dickinson served as United States Secretary of War
. During his tenure, he proposed legislation to permit the admission of foreign students to West Point, and recommended an annuity retirement system for civil service employees. He also suggested that Congress consider stopping the pay of soldiers rendered unfit for duty because of venereal disease or alcoholism
as a means of combatting those problems.
After his tenure as Secretary of War, Dickinson served as a special assistant attorney general and helped to prosecute U.S. Steel
in 1913. He also acted in several important labor cases in 1922. He later was receiver of the Rock Island Lines
from 1915 to 1917 and was president of the Izaak Walton League from 1927 until his death in Nashville in 1928.
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
under 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...
from 1909 to 1911. He was succeeded by Henry L. Stimson
Henry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk...
.
Biography
Dickinson was born in Columbus, MississippiColumbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
and enlisted at fourteen as a private in the Confederate Army cavalry. He moved with his family to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, graduated from the University of Nashville
University of Nashville
The University of Nashville was an educational institution that existed as a distinct entity from 1826 until 1909. During its history, it operated at various times a medical school, a four-year military college, a literary arts college, and a boys preparatory school...
in 1871, and received his master’s degree in 1872. He studied law briefly at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
and continued his studies abroad in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was later admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1874, and married Martha Overton in 1876.
From 1889 to 1893, Dickinson served as president of the Tennessee Bar Association. He served as Assistant Attorney General
United States Assistant Attorney General
Many of the divisions and offices of the United States Department of Justice are headed by an Assistant Attorney General.The President of the United States appoints individuals to the position of Assistant Attorney General with the advice and consent of the Senate...
of the United States from 1895 to 1897, and afterwards served as attorney for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad from 1897 to 1899. In 1899, he moved to Chicago, Illinois and became general solicitor for the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
, a position he held from 1899 to 1901. Dickinson later became general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
for that railroad, a position he held from 1901 to 1909. He was a counsel for the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal in 1903, and was president of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
from 1907–1908. Dickinson helped organize the American Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
The American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
, served on its executive council from 1907 to 1910, and was its vice president in 1910.
From March 12, 1909 to May 21, 1911, Dickinson served as United States Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
. During his tenure, he proposed legislation to permit the admission of foreign students to West Point, and recommended an annuity retirement system for civil service employees. He also suggested that Congress consider stopping the pay of soldiers rendered unfit for duty because of venereal disease or alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
as a means of combatting those problems.
After his tenure as Secretary of War, Dickinson served as a special assistant attorney general and helped to prosecute U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
in 1913. He also acted in several important labor cases in 1922. He later was receiver of the Rock Island Lines
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
from 1915 to 1917 and was president of the Izaak Walton League from 1927 until his death in Nashville in 1928.