Milton Dwight Purdy (November 3, 1866 – February 11, 1937) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and later was a Judge of the United States Court for China.
Milton D. Purdy | |
|---|---|
 Milton Purdy, Judge of the United States Court for China | |
| Judge of the United States Court for China | |
| In office 1924–1934 | |
| Appointed by | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Charles S. Lobingier |
| Succeeded by | Milton J. Helmick |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota | |
| In office March 6, 1909 – May 1, 1909 | |
| Appointed by | William Howard Taft |
| Preceded by | himself |
| Succeeded by | Charles Andrew Willard |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota | |
| In office July 6, 1908 – March 3, 1909 | |
| Appointed by | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | William Lochren |
| Succeeded by | himself |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Milton Dwight Purdy November 3, 1866 Mogadore, Ohio |
| Died | February 11, 1937 (aged 70) Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Education | University of Minnesota (A.B.) University of Minnesota Law School (LL.B.) |
Education and career
editBorn on November 3, 1866, in Mogadore, Ohio,[1] Purdy moved with his parents to Illinois in 1870.[2] He graduated from high school there in 1884 and taught school there.[2] During vacations he worked in his father's factory and learned the potters trade.[2] Purdy received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1891 from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Laws in 1892 from the University of Minnesota Law School.[1] He was an assistant city attorney for Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1893 to 1897.[1] He was an assistant county attorney for Hennepin County, Minnesota from 1897 to 1898.[1] He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota from 1898 to 1901.[1] He was the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota from 1901 to 1902.[1] He served with the United States Department of Justice from 1903 to 1908, as a United States Assistant Attorney General from 1903 to 1905, and as an assistant to the Attorney General of the United States from 1905 to 1908.[1] In his latter years in Washington, D.C., he became known as the "chief trust buster" for his work on anti-trust cases.[3] He won the Northern Securities Co. v. United States case for the U.S.[4]
Federal judicial service
editPurdy received a recess appointment from President Theodore Roosevelt on July 6, 1908, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota vacated by Judge William Lochren.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Roosevelt on December 8, 1908.[1] His service terminated on March 3, 1909, after his nomination was not confirmed by the United States Senate.[1] He received a second recess appointment from President William Howard Taft on March 6, 1909, to the same position, however, President Taft did not renominate him.[1] His service terminated on May 1, 1909, due to his resignation.[1]
Later career
editFollowing his resignation from the federal bench, Purdy returned to private practice from 1909 to 1922.[5] He again served with the United States Department of Justice from 1922 to 1924, as a special assistant to the Attorney General of the United States.[1] He was Judge of the United States Court for China from 1924 to 1934.[1]
Political activity
editBetween 1912 and 1916, Purdy was active in the Progressive political movement and was a national committee member of the Progressive Party.[3]
Final years and death
editPurdy remained in Shanghai, China, working for a finance company until 1936, when he retired.[3] Purdy died on February 11, 1937, in Honolulu, Hawaii.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Milton Dwight Purdy at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ a b c Purdy profile, History of the United States Court of Minnesota, 1976
- ^ a b c New York Times, February 14, 1937
- ^ "Milestones, Feb. 22, 1937". Time. 1937-02-22. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- ^ Law Notes. Vol. 13. E. Thompson Company. 1910. p. 35.
Sources
edit- Clark, Douglas (2015). Gunboat Justice: British and American Law Courts in China and Japan (1842–1943). Hong Kong: Earnshaw Books., Vol. 1: ISBN 978-988-82730-8-9; Vol. 2: ISBN 978-988-82730-9-6; Vol. 3: ISBN 978-988-82731-9-5
- Scully, Eileen P. (2001). Bargaining with the State from Afar: American Citizenship in Treaty Port China, 1842-1942. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12109-5.
- Milton Dwight Purdy at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.