Peter B. Olney
Encyclopedia
Peter Butler Olney was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
in 1864, and from Harvard Law School
in 1866. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in the firm of Evarts, Southmayd & Choate in New York City
. In 1869, he formed a partnership with Ex-Secretary of State of New York Francis C. Barlow
. In 1872, Barlow took office as State Attorney General and Olney helped with the prosecution of the members of the Tweed Ring.
He married Mary Sigourney Butler, and they had four sons: Peter B. Olney, Jr. (1881-1968), Richard Olney, Wilson Olney and Sigourney B. Olney.
In 1875, Olney ran on the Tammany
ticket for New York County District Attorney
but was defeated by the incumbent Republican Benjamin K. Phelps
. Afterwards Olney left Tammany and joined the "County Democracy", the Anti-Tammany Democrats of New York City. After the death of D.A. John McKeon
and the resignation of Wheeler H. Peckham after only a week in office, Governor Grover Cleveland
appointed Olney in December 1883 as D.A. to fill the vacancy until the end of 1884.
From 1897 until his death, he practiced law as senior partner of the firm of Olney & Comstock. From 1898 on he was also a U.S. Referee in Bankruptcy. In 1919, he was appointed by Surrogate Fowler as referee to investigate claims against the estate of the deceased actress Anna Held
.
Olney died from pneumonia
at his home at Cedarhurst, Long Island
. He was a trustee of Teachers College. U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of State Richard Olney
was his brother.
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 attended Phillips Andover Academy and graduated from Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1864, and from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1866. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in the firm of Evarts, Southmayd & Choate 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...
. In 1869, he formed a partnership with Ex-Secretary of State of New York Francis C. Barlow
Francis C. Barlow
Francis Channing Barlow was a lawyer, politician, and Union General during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
. In 1872, Barlow took office as State Attorney General and Olney helped with the prosecution of the members of the Tweed Ring.
He married Mary Sigourney Butler, and they had four sons: Peter B. Olney, Jr. (1881-1968), Richard Olney, Wilson Olney and Sigourney B. Olney.
In 1875, Olney ran on the Tammany
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
ticket for New York County District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
but was defeated by the incumbent Republican Benjamin K. Phelps
Benjamin K. Phelps
Benjamin Kinsman Phelps was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
. Afterwards Olney left Tammany and joined the "County Democracy", the Anti-Tammany Democrats of New York City. After the death of D.A. John McKeon
John McKeon
John McKeon was an American lawyer and politician from New York.- Life :He was the son of Capt...
and the resignation of Wheeler H. Peckham after only a week in office, Governor Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
appointed Olney in December 1883 as D.A. to fill the vacancy until the end of 1884.
From 1897 until his death, he practiced law as senior partner of the firm of Olney & Comstock. From 1898 on he was also a U.S. Referee in Bankruptcy. In 1919, he was appointed by Surrogate Fowler as referee to investigate claims against the estate of the deceased actress Anna Held
Anna Held
Helene Anna Held was a Polish-born stage performer, most often associated with impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, her common-law husband. -Early life:...
.
Olney died from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at his home at Cedarhurst, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. He was a trustee of Teachers College. U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of State Richard Olney
Richard Olney
Richard Olney was an American statesman. He served as both United States Attorney General and Secretary of State under President Grover Cleveland. As attorney general, Olney used injunctions against striking workers in the Pullman strike, setting a precedent, and advised the use of federal troops,...
was his brother.
Sources
- LOCAL POLITICAL NOTES in NYT on October 23, 1875
- WHEELER H. PECKHAM RESIGNS.; ILL HEALTH CAUSES HIM TO GIVE PLACE TO PETER B. OLNEY AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY in NYT on December 10, 1883
- THE NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY in NYT on December 12, 1883
- PETER BUTLER OLNEY DIES OF PNEUMONIA in NYT on February 10, 1922