Lloyd Wheaton Bowers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lloyd Wheaton Bowers
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| 12th Solicitor General of the United States | |
| In office April 1, 1909 – September 9, 1910 |
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| President | William H. Taft |
| Preceded by | Henry M. Hoyt |
| Succeeded by | Frederick W. Lehmann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 9, 1859 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | September 9, 1910 (aged 51) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Yale University Columbia Law School |
Lloyd Wheaton Bowers was an important American lawyer. He lived from March 9, 1859, to September 9, 1910. He is best known for serving as the Solicitor General of the United States. This is a top legal job in the U.S. government.
Contents
Lloyd Bowers: A Legal Career
Early Life and Education
Lloyd Bowers was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. His family had lived in New England for many generations. His parents were Samuel Dwight Bowers and Martha Wheaton Dowd.
His family moved to Brooklyn, New York. Later, they moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey. Lloyd was taught at home to get ready for college.
He went to Yale University in 1875. He was a brilliant student and graduated in 1879. He was the valedictorian of his class, meaning he was the top student. While at Yale, he was also a member of a secret society called Skull and Bones.
After Yale, he studied for another year. Then he traveled around Europe. Yale offered him a teaching job, but he decided to become a lawyer instead. He studied law at Columbia Law School. In 1882, he became a lawyer in New York. He started working at a major law firm in New York City.
Moving West and Railway Law
Lloyd Bowers quickly became a managing clerk at the law firm. By 1884, he was a full member of the firm. However, he became ill and needed to rest. He traveled to the Northwest for his health.
In October 1884, he moved to Winona, Minnesota. There, he started a law firm with Thomas Wilson. Mr. Wilson was a former chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Bowers practiced law in Minnesota until 1893.
After that, he became the main lawyer, or general counsel, for the Chicago & North Western Railway Company. This was a very large railway system. He worked for the railway until 1909.
Serving the United States
In 1909, President William Howard Taft chose Lloyd Bowers for a very important job. He became the Solicitor General of the United States. President Taft and Bowers had been close friends since their college days at Yale.
During his time with the railway, the country saw huge growth in industries. This led to many new legal cases. These cases involved federal laws about railroads, like the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. They also dealt with state powers to control trade and tax companies. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 was also a big part of these cases.
As Solicitor General, Bowers was very successful. He won many cases for the government. He enjoyed being a lawyer for the whole country, not just for one company. Sadly, he passed away before President Taft could nominate him for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Personal Life and Interests
Lloyd Bowers had many interests outside of law. He especially loved literature, art, and music. He was known for his kind and friendly nature.
He was married twice. His first wife was Louisa Bennett Wilson of Winona, Minnesota. They married on September 7, 1887. Louisa passed away on December 20, 1897.
In 1906, he married Charlotte Josephine Lewis of Detroit. She survived him when he died at age 51. Lloyd and Louisa had a daughter named Martha Wheaton Bowers. Martha later married Robert Alphonso Taft, who was the elder son of President William Howard Taft.
Lloyd Bowers did not publish any books during his lifetime.
