William H. H. Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Miller
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| 39th United States Attorney General | |
| In office March 7, 1889 – March 4, 1893 |
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| President | Benjamin Harrison |
| Preceded by | Augustus Garland |
| Succeeded by | Richard Olney |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Henry Harrison Miller
September 6, 1840 Augusta, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 25, 1917 (aged 76) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Hamilton College, New York (BA) |
| Signature |  |
William Henry Harrison Miller (born September 6, 1840 – died May 25, 1917) was an American lawyer. He became the top lawyer for the United States government, serving as the United States Attorney General. This important job means he was in charge of all legal matters for the country.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Miller was born in Augusta, New York. He was one of ten children in his family. His parents named him after a former president, William Henry Harrison.
When he was just 15 years old, William started teaching at a school. He later went to an academy in Whitestown, New York. In 1861, he graduated from Hamilton College. While he was there, he joined a student group called The Delta Upsilon fraternity.
Military Service
In May 1862, William Miller moved to Maumee, Ohio. He joined the army as a private to fight in the American Civil War. He was part of the 84th Ohio Infantry Regiment. Soon after joining, he was chosen to be a lieutenant. He served in the army until September of that same year.
After the war, Miller moved to Toledo, Ohio. He studied law by working in the office of Morrison Waite, who later became a very important judge called the Chief Justice of the United States. In 1865, William Miller passed his exams and became a lawyer in Peru, Indiana. He worked there for a short time and also helped oversee schools in the county.
Becoming a Top Lawyer
In 1866, Miller moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he started a law firm with another lawyer. Later, in 1874, he was invited to join a big law firm in Indianapolis. This firm became known as Harrison, Hines & Miller. The main partner in this firm was Benjamin Harrison, who would later become the President of the United States.
William Miller was also the head of the Indianapolis Bar Association from 1884 to 1885. He was known as a trusted helper and advisor to important leaders in the Republican Party in Indiana.
Serving the President
For many years, especially during the 1888 presidential election, William Miller was a close advisor to Benjamin Harrison. When Harrison became President, he chose Miller to be the United States Attorney General. This appointment was sent to the United States Senate and quickly approved. At the time, people said that Miller was a wealthy man because he had done very well in his law career. Miller served as Attorney General for the entire time President Harrison was in office, from 1889 to 1893.
Important Cases and Decisions
As Attorney General, William Miller worked on many important legal matters for the country.
- He handled legal arguments about the Bering Sea, which is an ocean area important for fishing.
- He defended new laws, like the McKinley Tariff (a tax on imported goods) and the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 (which regulated railroads).
- He also worked on the International Copyright Act of 1891, which protected the rights of writers and artists.
- Miller helped manage the process for six new states to join the United States: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming.
Miller also played a key role in a situation involving a former judge, David S. Terry. Terry had threatened a U.S. Supreme Court justice, Stephen Johnson Field. Miller personally told the U.S. marshal service to protect Justice Field. When local authorities tried to arrest the marshal who was protecting Field, Miller used his power to ensure federal judges were safe. He even argued the case himself in the Supreme Court, and the Court agreed with him.
After his time as Attorney General, Miller went back to Indianapolis. He continued to work as a lawyer in different law firms. From 1893 to 1898, he also served on the board of trustees for his old college, Hamilton College.
Family and Later Life
On December 23, 1863, William Miller married Gertrude A. Bunce. They had seven children together, but only three of them were still alive when William passed away.
William Miller died in 1917 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in that city.
