Michael Clarkson Ryan (April 23, 1820 – October 23, 1861) was an American attorney, politician, newspaper editor, and a founder of
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi (), commonly known as Beta, is a North American social Fraternities and sororities in North America, fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of North America's oldest fraternities, , it consist ...
. Ryan also organized and was the colonel of the
50th Ohio Infantry during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
.
Early life
Ryan was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on April 23, 1820.
He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.
His family moved to Hamilton, Ohio in 1832.
He attended Miami University, receiving an A.B. in 1839.
While at Miami, he was one of eight founders of Beta Theta Pi fraternity on August 8, 1839.
He then attended the
Cincinnati Law School
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the law school of the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.
History
The University of Cincinnati College of Law was founded in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School. It is the fourth oldest conti ...
where he received an LL.B. in 1842.
He received an A.M. From Miami University in 1845.
Career
Ryant began to practice law in Hamilton.
His law partner was
John B. Weller, his brother-in-law and a future U.S. Congressman, Senator and California governor until the two dissolved their partnership on February 6, 1861. Ryan was prosecuting attorney of
Butler County, Ohio
Butler County is a County (United States), county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 390,357. Its county seat and largest city is Hamilton, Ohio, Ham ...
fom 1848 to 1852.
He was the clerk of the county courts from 1852 to 1858.
From 1847 to 1849, he was the editor and publisher of the ''Hamilton Telegraph''.
In July 1850, Ryan was an assistant secretary for the Ohio Democratic State Convention. In January 1853, he represented the 3rd Congressional District at the Democratic State Convention. Ryan was a representative to the National Democratic Convention in 1856.
He was appointed the clerk of the U.S. Fund Commission, responsible for distributing surplus revenue to the states.
In February 1860, he was appointed to committee to oversee routes and safety issues related to the Great Miami Railroad on behalf of Hamilton.
In August 1861, the
U.S. War Department
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department (and occasionally War Office in the early years), was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army, als ...
authorized Ryan to organize an "Irish Regiment".
Ryan played a key role in organizing the
50th Ohio Infantry which only included men of Irish descent.
He was appointed by Governor
William J. Dennison Jr. to serve as the regiment's
Colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
.
However, he died before the regiment saw action.
Personal life
Ryan was married to Emily Leffler on November 16, 1845, in Butler County, Ohio.
He died on October 23, 1861 in Hamilton, Ohio.
He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton.
See also
*
List of Beta Theta Pi members
Sources
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Michael Clarkson
1861 deaths
Miami University alumni
Beta Theta Pi founders
1820 births
Union army colonels
People from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
People from Hamilton, Ohio
19th-century American lawyers
American Catholics
19th-century American newspaper editors
19th-century American newspaper publishers (people)
University of Cincinnati College of Law alumni