Milton Joseph Cunningham
American politician (1842–1916)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Milton Joseph Cunningham, also known as Joe Cunningham (March 10, 1842 – October 19, 1916) was a Louisiana attorney and politician who served as Attorney General of Louisiana from 1884 to 1888, and from 1892 to 1900.
Milton Joseph "Joe" Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| |
| Attorney General of Louisiana | |
| In office 1884–1888 | |
| Governor | Samuel Douglas McEnery |
| Preceded by | James C. Egan |
| Succeeded by | Walter Henry Rogers |
| In office 1892–1900 | |
| Governor | Murphy J. Foster, Sr. |
| Preceded by | Walter Henry Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Walter Guion |
| Louisiana State Senator from Natchitoches and DeSoto parishes | |
| In office 1880–1884 | |
| Succeeded by | Two-member delegation: J. Fisher Smith |
| Louisiana State Representative | |
| In office 1878–1880 | |
| Preceded by | Three-member delegation: L. G. Barron |
| Succeeded by | Two-member delegation: James H. Cosgrove |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 10, 1842 |
| Died | October 19, 1916 (aged 74) New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Cause of death | Atherosclerosis |
| Resting place | American Cemetery in Natchitoches, Louisiana |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Thalia Allen Tharp (married 1866-1872, her death) (2) Anne Peyton (married 1874-1878, her death) |
| Relations | W. Peyton Cunningham (grandson) Mildred Methvin (great-great-granddaughter) |
| Children | Twelve children, including: Charles Milton Cunningham |
| Parent(s) | John Hamilton and Ann Buie Cunningham |
| Occupation | Attorney Landowner |
| Signature |  |
As Attorney General he submitted the legal brief to the Supreme Court in the case Plessy v. Ferguson arguing in favor of separate rail cars for people of different races.[1]
Cunningham served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1878 to 1880 and in the Louisiana State Senate from 1880 to 1884.[2]
