Jacob McGavock Dickinson (January 30, 1851 – December 13, 1928) was United States Secretary of War under President William Howard Taft from 1909 to 1911. He was succeeded by Henry L. Stimson. He was an attorney, politician, and businessman in Nashville, Tennessee, where he also taught at Nashville University. He came to have a national role after moving to Chicago, Illinois, in 1899.
Early life
Jacob McGavock Dickinson was born on January 30, 1851, in Columbus, Mississippi.[1][2] His father, Henry Dickinson, served as a chancery judge in Mississippi from 1843 to 1854.[2] His mother was Anne McGavock.[2] His maternal great-grandfather was Felix Grundy.[2]
From March 12, 1909, to May 21, 1911, Dickinson served as United States Secretary of War.[1][2] Despite being a Democrat, he was appointed as Secretary of War by Republican President William Howard Taft because the President wanted the South to be represented in his Cabinet.[4] During Dickinson's tenure, he proposed legislation to permit the admission of foreign students to West Point, and recommended an annuity retirement system for civil service employees.[1] He also suggested that Congress consider stopping the pay of soldiers rendered unfit for duty because of venereal disease or alcoholism as a means of combatting those problems.[1]
After his tenure as Secretary of War, Dickinson served as a special assistant attorney general and helped to prosecute U.S. Steel in 1913.[1][2] He also acted in several important labor cases in 1922.[1] He later was receiver of the Rock Island Lines from 1915 to 1917 and was president of the Izaak Walton League from 1927 until 1928.[1][2]
