Michael J. Cantwell (April 1, 1837December 1, 1903) was an

Irish American , image = Irish ancestry in the USA 2018; Where Irish eyes are Smiling.png , image_caption = Irish Americans, % of population by state , caption = Notable Irish Americans , population = 36,115,472 (10.9%) alone ...

immigrant, printer, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the capital city of

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...

in the

1885 Events January–March * January 3– 4 – Sino-French War – Battle of Núi Bop: French troops under General Oscar de Négrier defeat a numerically superior Qing Chinese force, in northern Vietnam. * January 4 – ...

and

1887 Events January–March * January 11 – Louis Pasteur's anti-rabies treatment is defended in the Académie Nationale de Médecine, by Dr. Joseph Grancher. * January 20 ** The United States Senate allows the Navy to lease Pearl Har ...

sessions. He also served as a Union Army officer through most of the American Civil War.

Biography

Born in Ireland, Cantwell emigrated to the United States in 1849 and settled in Madison, Wisconsin. He worked as a printer for the newspaper ''Wisconsin Express'', which later became the '' Wisconsin State Journal''.

Civil War service

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Cantwell joined up with the "Madison Guard" militia company, the first Wisconsin company enrolled in the Union Army. They became Company E of the

1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The original 1st Regiment Wisconsin was raised at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 16, 1861, and mustered into Fede ...

. The 1st Wisconsin Infantry went east to Washington, D.C., and engaged in the Battle of Hoke's Run, but their three month enlistment expired in August 1861, and the unit returned to Wisconsin. Cantwell re-enlisted and was commissioned

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

of Company C in the

12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 12th Wisconsin was raised at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service October 18, 1861. The regim ...

in November 1861. He was promoted to first lieutenant six months later and served with the 12th Wisconsin Infantry through most of the rest of the war. He served in the western theater of the war, participating in the critical Vicksburg campaign, and the subsequent march with General William Tecumseh Sherman against Atlanta. Cantwell also served as acting quartermaster of the brigade. He mustered out in January 1865 at the expiration of his three year enlistment.

Postbellum career

After the war, he founded the Cantwell Printing Company, which he operated for 25 years. He was also involved with the Wisconsin Agricultural Society, the Dane County Agricultural Society, and the Wisconsin Historical Society. Cantwell served as Madison City Treasurer and on the Madison Common Council. In March 1885, he won a special election to serve in the Wisconsin State Assembly for the remainder of the

37th Wisconsin Legislature The Thirty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session. Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elec ...

. He replaced

William Freeman Vilas William Freeman Vilas (July 9, 1840August 27, 1908) was an American lawyer, politician, and United States Senator. In the U.S. Senate, he represented the state of Wisconsin for one term, from 1891 to 1897. As a prominent Bourbon Democrat, he wa ...

, who had been appointed United States Postmaster General. He subsequently won re-election in 1886 and served in the 38th Wisconsin Legislature. Cantwell was a member of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. He did not run for re-election in 1888. Cantwell died suddenly at his home in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1903.Wisconsin Veterans Museum-Michael Cantwell

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cantwell, Michael 1837 births 1903 deaths Irish emigrants to the United States Politicians from Madison, Wisconsin People of Wisconsin in the American Civil War Union Army officers American printers Businesspeople from Madison, Wisconsin Wisconsin city council members 19th-century American legislators 19th-century American businesspeople Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 19th-century Wisconsin politicians