Frederick Hampden Winston

Frederick Hampden Winston (November 2, 1830 — February 19, 1904) was a prominent American lawyer who was one of the founders of the law firm that is today Winston & Strawn. He served as the American Minister to Persia, 1885-1886.

Frederick Hampden Winston
United States Minister to Persia
In office 1885–1886
President	Grover Cleveland
Preceded by	Samuel G. W. Benjamin
Succeeded by	E. Spencer Pratt
Personal details
Born	November 2, 1830 Liberty County, Georgia
Died	February 19, 1904 (aged 73) Magnolia Springs, Alabama
Political party	Democratic

Biography

Winston was born in Liberty County, Georgia on November 2, 1830. While he was a child, his family moved to Kentucky. After graduating from high school, Winston moved east to study, graduating from Harvard Law School in 1852. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City and was admitted to the bar of New York State. After practicing law in New York for a year, in 1853, Winston moved to Chicago to launch a law practice there.

From 1853 to 1861, Winston partnered with Norman B. Judd, a prominent Republican who nominated Abraham Lincoln at the 1860 Republican National Convention. In 1861, Lincoln appointed Judd as his Minister Plenipotentiary to Berlin, forcing Winston to find a new partner. He then partnered with Henry Williams Blodgett until 1870, when President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant appointed Blodgett to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In 1865, Winston began a relationship with what would prove to be a long-term client, the Union Stock Yard and Transit Company of Chicago. Winston later represented three prominent railways: the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway.

Winston married Maria G. Dudley, daughter of General Ambrose Dudley. Together, they had six children, including Frederick Seymour Winston, who joined his father's law practice in 1878.

Winston retired from active practice in 1885 and devoted time to his support of the Democratic Party. President Grover Cleveland appointed Winston as American Minister to Persia, a position he held only until 1886. Upon his resignation, he traveled in Russia, Scandinavia, and other countries

Returning to the U.S. in 1886, he married his second wife, Sallie Reeves Hews, in New Orleans. Following a six-month honeymoon in Europe and Africa, Winston returned to Chicago, and became the president of his former client, the Union Stock Yard and Transit Company of Chicago. He also became an organizer of the Lincoln National Bank in the later 1880s. During this period, Winston served as president of the Lincoln Park Commission for twelve years.

In poor health, Winston retired to Florida in his later years, passing away near Magnolia Springs, Alabama on February 19, 1904.

References

• Obituary in the New York Times
• Profile of Winston, Payne, Strawn & Shaw
• Company History of Winston & Strawn