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Title
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James McMillan
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Creator
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James McMillan
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Description
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McMillan was a US Senator from Michigan who led the Senate Park Commission in creating a new design plan for Washington's public spaces, including the National Mall. The work and plan of the Senate Park Commission is often referred to by McMillan's name, because he worked very closely with architects and artists appointed to the commission. McMillan died in office in 1902, and would not see his work implemented on the Mall.
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Source
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Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. View original photograph.
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Coverage
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1890-1919
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birthday
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05/12/1838
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Birthplace
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Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Death Date
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08/10/1902
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Biographical Text
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McMillan was born in Ontario, Canada. In 1855, he moved to Detroit, MI and worked in a hardware store. In 1864, he and with three other men started the Michigan Car Company for manufacturing railroad cars. This was the first of many business ventures for McMillan, who was a millionaire by 1900. McMillan became involved in politics in the 1870s. He joined the Republican State Committee in 1876 and emerged as a major figure in Michigan politics. He was elected to the US Senate in 1889 and served until his death in 1902. One of McMillan's duties as Senator was to chair the District of Columbia Committee. Thus, he was heavily involved in the administration of Washington, which at this time had no city council or mayor. As the city approached its centennial in 1900, McMillan led a city beautification campaign that resulted in the creation of Senate Park Commission, which was charged with creating a new plan for the public spaces of the city. McMillan died while advocating for the Commission's plan. Ulimately, Congress never formally adopted the plan, but elements of it were implemented in subsequent decades.
