Alexander Mitchell (politician)

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Alexander Mitchell (October 17, 1817 – April 19, 1887) was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and immigrated to the United States in 1839. He pursued a career in banking in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded the Marine Bank of Wisconsin,^[1] and served as president of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company from 1864-1887. He also served in the Forty-second United States Congress and Forty-third United States Congress. He was nominated for Governor of Wisconsin in 1877, but he declined.

Alexander Mitchell was considered the wealthiest person in Wisconsin for his generation and had an estate in what is now the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wisconsin. His son John L. Mitchell was a politician and his grandson, Billy Mitchell, is regarded as the father of the U.S. Air Force. Both Mitchell Park and the street Mitchell Boulevard were named in honor of Alexander. The city of Mitchell, SD, incorporated in 1881, also was named in his honor.

Mitchell is buried at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee. In World War II the United States liberty ship SS Alexander Mitchell was named in his honor.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. (bio)

1. ^ Miller, Christopher. The History Guy. Shepherd Express. Retrieved on 2006-09-28.