Nathan L. Miller
Encyclopedia
Nathan Lewis Miller was an American lawyer and politician who was the 43rd Governor of New York
from 1921 to 1922.
. He read law and was admitted to the state bar in 1893. On November 23, 1896, he married Elizabeth Davern, and they had seven children, all daughters.
He entered politics as a Republican, and started his political career in Cortland as corporation counsel
. Eventually he moved to corporate law and his rise in politics was strongly helped by his relationship with Andrew Carnegie
and the United States Steel Corporation. Miller helped to effect the mergers
that created this early mega-corporation. The merger helped Carnegie get out of the steel business and make him the richest man in the world at the time.
He was New York State Comptroller
from 1901 to 1903, first appointed to fill the unexpired term of Erastus C. Knight
who had been elected Mayor of Buffalo, and in November 1902 elected to a full term.
He resigned the comptrollership in 1903, and was appointed to the New York Supreme Court
, serving from 1903 to 1915, from 1904 on serving on its Appellate Division
. On January 13, 1913, he was designated an associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals
under the amendment of 1899, but resigned from the bench on July 30, 1915. He served as President of the New York State Bar Association
in 1920. He nominated Herbert Hoover
for president at the 1920 Republican National Convention
.
Miller was Governor of New York
from 1921 to 1922, elected in 1920. As governor he instituted numerous economy measures and estimated he saved taxpayers $20 million. Against opposition from New York City Mayor John F. Hylan
, Miller fashioned the law creating the New York City Transit Commission. He found the death penalty necessary, and was against its abolition. Miller was against women's rights
, telling the League of Women Voters
in 1921, that they were "dangerous." He told their convention they were “a menace to American institutions.” In 1922, he was defeated in a bid for re-election by his predecessor Al Smith
, whom he had unseated in 1920. Miller was a strong supporter of the Roman Catholic Church
, his wife's religion, and converted to Catholicism on his deathbed.
From 1925 on he served as general counsel
for U.S. Steel
. He, like his old adversary Smith was active in the American Liberty League
, a bipartisan anti-New Deal
group founded by wealthy conservatives. While still the leading partner at his law firm
in 1938, Carnegie's Pittsburgh Steamship Company named a ship "Governor Miller" in his honor.
In January 1952 the New York State Bar Association awarded Miller its first gold medal for "distinguished service to the legal profession."
He died in 1953 at his New York hotel residence after fracturing his hip following a vacation in Arizona
. He was buried in Cortland at the historic Cortland Rural Cemetery.
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...
from 1921 to 1922.
Life
He was the son of Samuel Miller, a tenant farmer, and Almira Russell Miller. He attended Groton Union School, and graduated from Cortland Normal School in 1887. Then he studied law in Cortland, New YorkCortland, New York
Cortland is a city in Cortland County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 18,740. It is the county seat of Cortland County.The City of Cortland, near the west border of the county, is surrounded by the Town of Cortlandville....
. He read law and was admitted to the state bar in 1893. On November 23, 1896, he married Elizabeth Davern, and they had seven children, all daughters.
He entered politics as a Republican, and started his political career in Cortland as corporation counsel
Corporation Counsel
The Corporation Counsel is the title given to the chief legal officer in some municipal and county jurisdictions, who handles civil claims against the city, including negotiating settlements and defending the city when it is sued. Most corporation counsels do not prosecute criminal cases, though...
. Eventually he moved to corporate law and his rise in politics was strongly helped by his relationship with Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
and the United States Steel Corporation. Miller helped to effect the mergers
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
that created this early mega-corporation. The merger helped Carnegie get out of the steel business and make him the richest man in the world at the time.
He was New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
from 1901 to 1903, first appointed to fill the unexpired term of Erastus C. Knight
Erastus C. Knight
Erastus Cole Knight was an American businessman and politician.-Life:...
who had been elected Mayor of Buffalo, and in November 1902 elected to a full term.
He resigned the comptrollership in 1903, and was appointed to 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...
, serving from 1903 to 1915, from 1904 on serving on its Appellate Division
New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division is the intermediate appellate court in New York State. The Appellate Division is composed of four departments .*The First Department covers the Bronx The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division is the intermediate...
. On January 13, 1913, he was designated an associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
under the amendment of 1899, but resigned from the bench on July 30, 1915. He served as President of the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
in 1920. He nominated Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
for president at the 1920 Republican National Convention
1920 Republican National Convention
The 1920 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States nominated Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding for President and Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge for Vice President...
.
Miller was Governor of 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...
from 1921 to 1922, elected in 1920. As governor he instituted numerous economy measures and estimated he saved taxpayers $20 million. Against opposition from New York City Mayor John F. Hylan
John F. Hylan
John Francis Hylan , nicknamed "Red Mike", was the Mayor of New York City from 1918 to 1925.-Biography:Hylan was born in Hunter, New York a town in upstate Greene County where his family owned a farm. Hylan married young, became dissatisfied with farm life and moved to Brooklyn with his bride, and...
, Miller fashioned the law creating the New York City Transit Commission. He found the death penalty necessary, and was against its abolition. Miller was against women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, telling the League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
in 1921, that they were "dangerous." He told their convention they were “a menace to American institutions.” In 1922, he was defeated in a bid for re-election by his predecessor Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
, whom he had unseated in 1920. Miller was a strong supporter of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, his wife's religion, and converted to Catholicism on his deathbed.
From 1925 on he served as 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 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...
. He, like his old adversary Smith was active in the American Liberty League
American Liberty League
The American Liberty League was an American political organization formed in 1934 by conservative Democrats to oppose the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was active for just two years...
, a bipartisan anti-New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
group founded by wealthy conservatives. While still the leading partner at his law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
in 1938, Carnegie's Pittsburgh Steamship Company named a ship "Governor Miller" in his honor.
In January 1952 the New York State Bar Association awarded Miller its first gold medal for "distinguished service to the legal profession."
He died in 1953 at his New York hotel residence after fracturing his hip following a vacation in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. He was buried in Cortland at the historic Cortland Rural Cemetery.
Sources
- Appointment as Comptroller, in NYT on December 31, 1901
- Appointment to the Supreme Court, in NYT on November 11, 1903
- Political Graveyard
- His opinion on the death penalty, in NYT on May 1, 1921
- History of Court of Appeal
External links
- Findagrave.com
- NGA.org, biography
- Patspresidentialplaces.com, Pat's Presidential Places