Theodore E. Hancock (May 30, 1847 – November 19, 1916) was an American lawyer and politician. He was New York's Attorney General from 1894 to 1898.[1]

Theodore E. Hancock
Born(1847-05-30)May 30, 1847
DiedNovember 19, 1916(1916-11-19) (aged 69)
EducationWesleyan University (1871)
Columbia University Law School
Occupations
Spouse
Martha B. Connelly
(m. 1882)
Children3, including Clarence E. Hancock
RelativesStewart F. Hancock Jr. (grandson)
Attorney General of New York
In office
January 1, 1894 – December 31, 1898
Preceded bySimon W. Rosendale
Succeeded byJohn C. Davies
22nd District Attorney of Onondaga County, New York
In office
November 5, 1889 – November 8, 1892
Preceded byLawrence T. Jones
Succeeded byBenjamin J. Shove

Biography

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He was born on May 30, 1847, in Granby, New York, to Freeman Hancock and Mary Williams.[2]

 
Caricature of Theodore E. Hancock by W. T. Schwarz of Syracuse, New York, in February, 1906

He graduated from Falley Seminary in Fulton in 1867, and from Wesleyan University in 1871. He then studied law at the Columbia University Law School, and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar in 1873.[2]

In 1873, he commenced practice in New York City in the office of Bangs & North. A few years later, he removed to Syracuse, New York, and opened the office of Gilbert & Hancock.

In 1879, he established the firm of Hancock, Beach, Peck and Devine in Syracuse. His son Stewart F. Hancock was considered the "modern-day founder of the firm", and his grandson Stewart F. Hancock Jr. rejoined the firm in 1994 after serving on the New York Court of Appeals.[3]

He was a Justice of the Peace; and was District Attorney of Onondaga County from 1889 to 1892.[4] He was New York Attorney General from 1894 to 1898, elected at the New York state election, 1893, and re-elected at the New York state election, 1895 on the Republican ticket. In 1897, Wesleyan University conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.). In 1899, he ran for Mayor of Syracuse, New York.

He died on November 19, 1916, in Syracuse, New York.

Personal life

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He was married on June 7, 1882, to Martha B. Connelly of Wheeling, West Virginia, and had three children:[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Theodore E. Hancock" (PDF). New York Times. November 20, 1916. Retrieved 2012-10-10. Theodore E. Hancock, Attorney General of New York State ...
  2. ^ a b c d e f Haskin, Joseph A. "Oswego County, New York Biographies". The Union Army, Volume VIII, Biographical, Federal Publishing Co., 1908. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  3. ^ Kropf, Annemarie. "Law firm flourishes in key niches". The Business Journal - Central New York, June 13, 2003. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  4. ^ "District Attorneys: Onondaga County". Historical Society of the New York Courts. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022.

Further reading

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  • Theodore Hancock b. 30 May 1847 Granby, NY at genforum.genealogy.com Short bio, at Genforum
  • [1] Presentation of the candidates for state office, in NYT on November 5, 1893 (erroneously predicting Hancock's defeat)
  • [2] The re-elected state officers, in NYT on November 6, 1895
  • [3] Election results, in NYT on November 6, 1895
  • [4] The honorary degree, in NYT on July 1, 1897
  • [5] The run for mayor, in NYT on November 5, 1899
Legal offices
Preceded by New York Attorney General
1894–1898
Succeeded by