Depew, Chauncey Mitchell. An American lawyer. Born in Peekskill, New York, April 23, 1834. Graduated from Yale College in 1856. Engaged in the presidential campaigning for Fremont immediately afterward. Studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. He was appointed United States minister to Japan, and after holding the commission a month, declined, and began his career as a railroad official as attorney for the New York and Harlem Railroad. He was made attorney and director of the consolidated Hudson River and New York Central railroads in 1869; general counsel of the whole Vanderbilt system in 1875. Second vice-president of the reorganized New York Central Railroad in 1882, and president 1885-98. His political career, since 1866, embraces his unsuccessful candidacy as lieutenant-governor on the Liberal Republican ticket in 1872: his election by the legislature as a regent of the State University in 1874; his candidacy for United States senator to succeed Thomas C. Platt, in which he withdrew his name after 82 days of balloting in 1881; his declination of the United States senatorship tendered by the Republicans of the legislature in 1885; his candidacy for the presidential nomination in the national convention in 1888; and his election to the United States Senate in 1899 and 1905. He had an international reputation as an unusually entertaining speaker, constantly in request as a lecturer, and delivered many addresses of large public importance.

---