Peter S. Grosscup

Peter Stenger Grosscup
Judge Peter S. Grosscup as he appeared at the time of the 1894 Pullman Strike.
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office
January 23, 1899 – October 23, 1911
Nominated by William McKinley
Preceded by John William Showalter
Succeeded by Samuel Alschuler
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
In office
December 20, 1892 – February 1, 1899
Nominated by Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by Henry Williams Blodgett
Succeeded by Christian Cecil Kohlsaat
Personal details
Born (1852-02-15)February 15, 1852
Ashland, Ohio, U.S.
Died October 1, 1921(1921-10-01) (aged 69)
On board a ship bound for Southampton
Alma mater Wittenberg College, A.B.
Boston University School of Law, LL.B

Peter Stenger Grosscup (February 15, 1852 – October 1, 1921) was a United States federal judge. Grosscup is best remembered for having made use of the judicial injunction against strikers in labor disputes, including most notably the leadership of the American Railway Union in the 1894 Pullman Strike.

Biography

Early years

Peter S. Grosscup was born in Ashland, Ohio, on February 15, 1852. Grosscup received an Bachelor of Arts from Wittenberg College in 1872 and a Bachelor of Laws from Boston University School of Law in 1873.

Judge Peter Grosscup as he appeared late in his judicial career.

He was in private practice in Ashland, Ohio from 1873 to 1875 and was then city solicitor of Ashland until 1881. He returned to private practice in Ashland from 1881 to 1883, and then in Chicago, Illinois until 1892.

On December 12, 1892, Grosscup was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by Henry W. Blodgett. Grosscup was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 1892, and received his commission the same day. According to Almont Lindsey's 1942 book The Pullman Strike, Grosscup received this appointment as political payback for a large donation George Pullman made to the Harrison presidential campaign.[1]

According to Almont Lindsey, federal judges Peter Grosscup and William Woods issued the first omnibus injunction against the Pullman railroad strikers in Chicago protecting 22 railroads on July 2, 1894. This innovative use of a federal injunction charged unnamed strikers with conspiracy for interfering with interstate commerce and the mails thus putting the federal courts at the disposal of corporations to break strikes.[2] The July 3, 1894 New York Times called the injunction a "Gatling gun on paper."

On January 18, 1899, President William McKinley nominated Grosscup for elevation to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by John William Showalter. Grosscup was again confirmed by the United States Senate on January 23, 1899, and received his commission the same day. He served in that capacity until his resignation from the bench on October 23, 1911.

Death and legacy

Peter S. Grosscup died October 1, 1921 on board a ship bound for Southampton. He was 69 years old at the time of his death.

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Almont Lindsay, The Pullman Strike: The Story of a Unique Experiment and of a Great Labor Upheaval. Chicago: University of Chicago Press 1942; pg. 193.
  2. ↑ Lindsay, The Pullman Strike, pg. 161.
Sources
Legal offices
Preceded by
Henry Williams Blodgett		 Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
December 20, 1892 – February 1, 1899		 Succeeded by
Christian Cecil Kohlsaat
Preceded by
John William Showalter		 Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
1899–1911		 Succeeded by
Samuel Alschuler
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