1845 – 1937

Elihu Root

American politician (1845-1937)

diplomatjuristpoliticianlawyer

Born

1845-02-15, Clinton

Died

1937-02-07

Birthplace state

New York

Biography

Elihu Root was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and statesman who served as the 41st United States Secretary of War under presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt and the 38th United States Secretary of State, also under Roosevelt. In both positions as well as a long legal career, he pioneered the American practice of international law. Root is sometimes considered the prototype of the 20th-century political "wise man", advising presidents on a range of foreign and domestic issues. He also served as a United States Senator from New York and received the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize.

Occupation

Elihu Root is recorded as a diplomat, a jurist, a politician and a lawyer, born in New York (1845–1937).

Connections to New York

Elihu Root was born in Clinton, New York in 1845. Explore other notable figures from New York, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from New York›New Yorkhistory ›Historic sites in New York›

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

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The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

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The Community

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Rivers & Rail

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Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Points of Interest

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More notable figures from New York

Other historical figures born in New York, ranked by historical prominence.

Donald Trump

American businessman and politician (born 1946), President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

president of the United States from 1933 to 1945 (1882–1945)

Theodore Roosevelt

26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 (1858–1919)

Stanley Kubrick

American filmmaker (1928–1999)

Walt Whitman

American poet, essayist and journalist (1819–1892)

Eleanor Roosevelt

American diplomat and activist, First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 (1884–1962)

Martin Van Buren

president of the United States from 1837 to 1841

Frequently asked about Elihu Root

Who was Elihu Root?

Elihu Root was American politician (1845-1937), born in New York (1845 – 1937).

When and where was Elihu Root born?

Elihu Root was born on 1845-02-15 in Clinton.

When did Elihu Root die?

Elihu died on 1937-02-07.

What was Elihu Root known for?

Elihu Root is recorded as a diplomat, a jurist, a politician and a lawyer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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