Theodore E. Hancock Explained

Theodore E. Hancock
Honorific Suffix:	LL.D.
Birth Date:	1847 5, mf=yes
Birth Place:	Granby, New York
Death Place:	Syracuse, New York
Children:	3, including Clarence E. Hancock
Relatives:	Stewart F. Hancock Jr. (grandson)
Module:	Embed: yes Office: Attorney General of New York Termstart: January 1, 1894 Termend: December 31, 1898 Predecessor: Simon W. Rosendale Successor: John C. Davies Office2: 22nd District Attorney of Onondaga County, New York Termstart2: November 5, 1889 Termend2: November 8, 1892 Predecessor2: Lawrence T. Jones Successor2: Benjamin J. Shove
Education:	Wesleyan University (1871) Columbia University Law School

Theodore E. Hancock (May 30, 1847 – November 19, 1916) was an American lawyer and politician. He was New York's Attorney General from 1894 to 1898.^[1]

Biography

He was born on May 30, 1847, in Granby, New York, to Freeman Hancock and Mary Williams.

He graduated from Falley Seminary in Fulton in 1867, and from Wesleyan University in 1871. He then studied law at the Columbia University Law School, and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar in 1873.^[2]

In 1873, he commenced practice in New York City in the office of Bangs & North. A few years later, he removed to Syracuse, New York, and opened the office of Gilbert & Hancock.

In 1879, he established the firm of Hancock, Beach, Peck and Devine in Syracuse. His son Stewart F. Hancock was considered the "modern-day founder of the firm", and his grandson Stewart F. Hancock Jr. rejoined the firm in 1994 after serving on the New York Court of Appeals.^[3]

He was a Justice of the Peace; and was District Attorney of Onondaga County from 1889 to 1892.^[4] He was New York Attorney General from 1894 to 1898, elected at the New York state election, 1893, and re-elected at the New York state election, 1895 on the Republican ticket. In 1897, Wesleyan University conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.). In 1899, he ran for Mayor of Syracuse, New York.

He died on November 19, 1916, in Syracuse, New York.

Personal life

He was married on June 7, 1882, to Martha B. Connelly of Wheeling, West Virginia, and had three children:

• Stewart F. Hancock (born April 4, 1883) - Graduated from Wesleyan University in 1905 and Syracuse University Law School in 1907. He was admitted to the bar in 1907 and practiced law as a member of the firm of Hancock, Hogan & Hancock.^[2]
• Clarence Eugene Hancock (born February 13, 1885) - Graduated from Wesleyan University in 1906 and New York Law School in 1908. Admitted to the bar in 1908 and a member of the firm Hancock, Spriggs and Hancock.^[2] United States Congressman for New York's 35th District, 1927-1945. Syracuse Hancock International Airport is named after him
• Martha Hancock - Educated at Syracuse University and Wesleyan College.^[2]

Further reading

• Theodore Hancock b. 30 May 1847 Granby, NY at genforum.genealogy.com Short bio, at Genforum
• https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1893/11/05/109268892.pdf Presentation of the candidates for state office, in NYT on November 5, 1893 (erroneously predicting Hancock's defeat)
• https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1895/11/06/106072572.pdf The re-elected state officers, in NYT on November 6, 1895
• https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1895/11/06/106072400.pdf Election results, in NYT on November 6, 1895
• https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/07/01/100426879.pdf The honorary degree, in NYT on July 1, 1897
• https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1899/11/05/117933828.pdf The run for mayor, in NYT on November 5, 1899

Notes and References

1. News: Theodore E. Hancock . Theodore E. Hancock, Attorney General of New York State ... . . November 20, 1916 . 2012-10-10 .
2. Web site: Oswego County, New York Biographies. Joseph A. . Haskin. September 7, 2010 . The Union Army, Volume VIII, Biographical, Federal Publishing Co., 1908.
3. Web site: Law firm flourishes in key niches . Annemarie . Kropf . September 7, 2010 . The Business Journal - Central New York, June 13, 2003.
4. Web site: District Attorneys: Onondaga County . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205071939/https://history.nycourts.gov/figure/district-attorneys-onondaga-county/ . December 5, 2022 . Historical Society of the New York Courts.