Michael James Cleary (September 23, 1877 – February 21, 1947) was an American lawyer, insurance executive, and Republican politician from Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He was the 9th Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner and served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1907 & 1909). Later he was president of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. His name was often abbreviated as M. J. Cleary.
M. J. Cleary | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th Commissioner of Insurance of Wisconsin | |
| In office June 30, 1915 – April 10, 1919 | |
| Appointed by | Emanuel L. Philipp |
| Preceded by | Herman Ekern |
| Succeeded by | Platt Whitman |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Lafayette County district | |
| In office January 7, 1907 – January 2, 1911 | |
| Preceded by | Richard E. Tarrell |
| Succeeded by | Eugene D. Parkinson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 23, 1877 Blanchardville, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | February 21, 1947 (aged 69) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Bonnie B. Blanchard |
| Children |
|
| Profession | Lawyer |
Biography and career
editCleary was born on September 23, 1877, in Blanchardville, Wisconsin[1] or Moscow, Wisconsin.[2] He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[3][1]
Cleary was elected to the Assembly in 1906 and re-elected in 1908.[4] He was a Republican.
He was an attorney, and worked in insurance and banking in Blanchardville, Wisconsin. He also spent two years as the Chairman of the County Board of Lafayette County, Wisconsin.[2]
He served as Commissioner of Insurance from July 1, 1915 to April 10, 1919.[3][5] During World War I, he organized a "far reaching and effective food conservation campaign" with a "corps of 125 insurance agents."[6]
In 1919, he assumed the presidency of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.[3][7] He also served as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin and of the Board of Governors of Marquette University.[8]
He died in Milwaukee on February 21, 1947.[1]
Personal life and family
editM. J. Cleary married Bonnie B. Blanchard of Blanchardville—she was a granddaughter of Alvin Blanchard, who founded Blanchardville. They had at least three children.
Their eldest daughter, Catherine Blanchard Cleary, was a pioneer woman in business, graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School and serving as the first female board member of General Motors, AT&T, Kraft Foods, Northwestern Mutual, and Kohler Co. After the 1952 United States presidential election, she challenged president-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower to appoint a woman as Treasurer of the United States. Eisenhower responded by appointing Ivy Baker Priest, and then named Cleary as assistant treasurer.[9] Cleary served less than a year in that role, however—she determined that the role of assistant treasurer was not needed and had the position abolished. She was subsequently appointed assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury, George M. Humphrey.[10] She retired at the end of her business career as chairman, president, and C.E.O. of the First Wisconsin Trust Co.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Michael Cleary Is Heart Victim". Waukesha Daily Freeman. February 22, 1947. p. 1. Retrieved May 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "M. J. Cleary". USGenWeb Archives. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ a b c "M. J. Cleary, 69, Insurance Official and UW Regent, Dies". Wisconsin State Journal. February 22, 1947. p. 1. Retrieved May 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Biographical Sketches. Wisconsin Blue Book. 1909. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ "Object details - M. J. Clearly election poster". Chudnow Museum. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ Pixley, R.B. (1919). Wisconsin in the world war; an account of the activities of Wisconsin citizens during the great world war, giving in part the record of a loyal state and acknowledging in part its devotion and untiring service to the nation and to its ideals for a lasting and benevolent democracy. Milwaukee: The Wisconsin War History Company. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ "INSURANCE CHIEF SEES INTEREST RATES RISE - M.J. Cleary of Northwestern Life Expects Normal Trade to Increase Money Demand". New York Times. January 1935. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ "M.J. CLEARY DIES - SURETY FIRM HEAD - President of the Northwestern Mutual Life, Regents Board Member at Wisconsin U." New York Times. February 23, 1947. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ "Miss Cleary in Treasury Office". The Capital Times. May 25, 1953. p. 3. Retrieved June 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Silvers, Amy Rabideau (December 6, 2010). "Cleary led way for women in business". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
