John J. Milligan

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = John J. Milligan
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = Associate Justice
Delaware Superior Court
term_start = September 19, 1839
term_end = September 2, 1864
predecessor = James R. Black
successor = Leonard E. Wales
office2 = U.S. Representative from Delaware
term_start2 = March 4, 1831
term_end2 = March 3, 1839
predecessor2 = Kensey Johns, Jr.
successor2 = Thomas Robinson, Jr.
birth_date = birth date|1795|12|10|mf=y
birth_place = Cecil County, Maryland
death_date =death date and age|1875|4|20|1795|12|10
death_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
spouse = Martha Levy
party = Whig
residence = Wilmington, Delaware
alma_mater = Princeton University
occupation =
profession = lawyer
religion =

John Jones Milligan (December 10, 1795– April 20, 1875) was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party, who served as United States Representative from Delaware.

Early life and family

Milligan was born December 10, 1795 in Bohemia Manor, Cecil County, Maryland, son of Robert Milligan and Sarah Jones. He grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and attended Wilmington Academy and St. Mary’s College in Baltimore. He attended Princeton College in 1814, but was expelled for "refusing to obey the lawful command of the presiding officer in the dining room." [cite book | last = Martin | first = Roger A. | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2003 | title = Delawareans in Congress | publisher = Roger A. Martin | location = Middletown, DE | id = ISBN 0-924117-26-5] He studied law with his brother-in-law Louis McLane and was admitted to the bar in 1818, and began practice in New Castle County, Delaware.

Political career

Milligan served eight years representing Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1830, he became a member of the Whig Party when it was organized and served from March 4, 1831 until March 3, 1839. Having been defeated for reelection to a fifth term, he was appointed associate judge of the Delaware Superior Court on September 19, 1839, and served until September 16, 1864, when he retired.

Death and legacy

Milligan died April 20, 1875 at his retirement home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is buried in the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery, Wilmington, Delaware.

Milligan is described in the "Diaries of Edmund Canby" as follows: "...(he)...is a beautiful speaker, his manner is fine, gestures good, matter well arranged, distinct and clear- certainly one of the most delightful speakers I have ever heard...Milligan would be a splendid speaker with practice...he has many happy hits and some beautiful classical illusions...He is, I am told, a fine classical scholar." [cite journal | author = | year = 1974 | month = October | title = Diaries of Edmund Canby | journal = Delaware History | volume = | issue = | pages = | doi = | id = | url = | format = | accessdate = ]

Public offices

At this time Delaware elections were held the first Tuesday of November. Members of the U.S House took office March 4 and served for a term of two years.