Cabinet Member, Diplomat. Usually referred to as Wayne, he graduated from Yale in 1853 and became an attorney in 1856. From 1859 to 1864 he was Chester District Attorney. MacVeagh joined the Army during the Civil War, serving in Infantry and Cavalry units and attaining the rank of Major. MacVeagh was Ambassador to Turkey from 1870 to 1871. He became Attorney General when Garfield was inaugurated in 1881 and resigned with the entire cabinet after Garfield's assassination so Arthur could select his own department heads. In 1892 MacVeagh supported Democrat Grover Cleveland for President. From 1893 to 1897 he was Ambassador to Italy. MacVeagh was a reformer and he was often in conflict with his father in law Senator Simon Cameron and brother in law Senator J. Donald Cameron, de facto heads of Pennsylvania's Republican party. MacVeagh's son Charles served as Ambassador to Japan and his grandson Lincoln served as Ambassador to Greece. His brother Franklin served as Treasury Secretary.
Cabinet Member, Diplomat. Usually referred to as Wayne, he graduated from Yale in 1853 and became an attorney in 1856. From 1859 to 1864 he was Chester District Attorney. MacVeagh joined the Army during the Civil War, serving in Infantry and Cavalry units and attaining the rank of Major. MacVeagh was Ambassador to Turkey from 1870 to 1871. He became Attorney General when Garfield was inaugurated in 1881 and resigned with the entire cabinet after Garfield's assassination so Arthur could select his own department heads. In 1892 MacVeagh supported Democrat Grover Cleveland for President. From 1893 to 1897 he was Ambassador to Italy. MacVeagh was a reformer and he was often in conflict with his father in law Senator Simon Cameron and brother in law Senator J. Donald Cameron, de facto heads of Pennsylvania's Republican party. MacVeagh's son Charles served as Ambassador to Japan and his grandson Lincoln served as Ambassador to Greece. His brother Franklin served as Treasury Secretary.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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