M. Linn Bruce
Encyclopedia
Matthew Linn Bruce was an American
lawyer and politician
from New York
.
Academy, and graduated A.B.
from Rutgers College as valedictorian
of the class of 1884. Then he studied law in the office of Cassius M. Shaw at Andes, N.Y., and was admitted to the bar in 1889.
In 1890 removed to New York City
where he resided in the Twenty-first Assembly District. He was managing clerk in the office of Hector M. Hitchings until 1892, and then opened his own law office. In 1894, he married Lillian (Ballantine) Knapp, and they had four children.
In 1903, he was President of the New York County Republican Committee, and conducted the unsuccessful campaign of Mayor Seth Low
for re-election.
He was Lieutenant Governor of New York
from 1905 to 1906, elected in 1904, but defeated for re-election in November 1906 although his running mate Charles Evans Hughes
was elected Governor. All other Republican candidates were defeated by the nominees of the Democratic
/Independence League fusion ticket. On December 5, 1906, he resigned and was appointed by Governor Frank W. Higgins
a justice of the New York Supreme Court
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Justice Morgan J. O'Brien, and remained on the bench until the end of 1907. In 1908, he resumed the practice of law, but on October 13 of the same year he was reappointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Hughes to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Justice David Leventritt, and remained on the bench until the end of the year. In November 1908, he ran for the Supreme Court on the Republican ticket to succeed himself, but was defeated by the Democratic candidate Irving Lehman
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of Dr. James Bruce and Mary (Linn) Bruce (ca. 1830-1907). He was educated at AndesAndes (town), New York
Andes is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 1,356 at the 2000 census.The Town of Andes formerly contained a village with the same name...
Academy, and graduated A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Rutgers College as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of the class of 1884. Then he studied law in the office of Cassius M. Shaw at Andes, N.Y., and was admitted to the bar in 1889.
In 1890 removed to 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...
where he resided in the Twenty-first Assembly District. He was managing clerk in the office of Hector M. Hitchings until 1892, and then opened his own law office. In 1894, he married Lillian (Ballantine) Knapp, and they had four children.
In 1903, he was President of the New York County Republican Committee, and conducted the unsuccessful campaign of Mayor Seth Low
Seth Low
Seth Low , born in Brooklyn, New York, was an American educator and political figure who served as mayor of Brooklyn, as President of Columbia University, as diplomatic representative of the United States, and as Mayor of New York City...
for re-election.
He was Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
from 1905 to 1906, elected in 1904, but defeated for re-election in November 1906 although his running mate Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
was elected Governor. All other Republican candidates were defeated by the nominees of the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
/Independence League fusion ticket. On December 5, 1906, he resigned and was appointed by Governor Frank W. Higgins
Frank W. Higgins
Frank Wayland Higgins was an American politician. He was a delegate to the 1888 Republican National Convention, and a member of the New York State Senate from 1894 to 1902. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1903 to 1904, elected in 1902; and Governor of New York from 1905 to 1906,...
a justice of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Justice Morgan J. O'Brien, and remained on the bench until the end of 1907. In 1908, he resumed the practice of law, but on October 13 of the same year he was reappointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Hughes to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Justice David Leventritt, and remained on the bench until the end of the year. In November 1908, he ran for the Supreme Court on the Republican ticket to succeed himself, but was defeated by the Democratic candidate Irving Lehman
Irving Lehman
Irving Lehman was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1940 until his death in 1945.- Biography:...
.
Sources
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B01E3D71230E132A25755C1A96F9C946597D6CF The Rep. nominees, in NYT on September 16, 1904
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9906E3DF1731E733A25755C0A9649D946797D6CF Bruce resigned and appointed justice, in NYT on December 6, 1906
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/bruce.html Political Graveyard
- http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/NYDELAWA/2005-07/1122746636 His mother's obit, transcribed from Brooklyn Standard Union of at RootsWeb
- http://www.genealogybiography.com/1914/biographies015.htm Bios of Men of 1914, transcribed from Builders of Our Nation (American Publishers' Association, 1915)
External links
- http://www.dcnyhistory.org/andes001RB.html Picture postcard of his residence at Andes, N.Y.