Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-28
THEODORE RUNyON DEAD.
The American Ambassador 10 berlin
Suddenly Exnircs.

Theodore RunyOn. the American A"i-
bassador Extraordinary and Plenipoten-
tiary. at Berlin. Germany died Of heart
failure there at o'clock yesterday morn
ing.
Mir. Runyons death was unexpected
lie dined last Thursday night with the
Emperor and others, and appeared TO be
IN good health.
Theodore Runyon was born at Somer-
vile, in Somerset county, y. j., OCTOBER
.. 1922 lie came of a Huguenot fami-
". which was driven out OF France by
the revocation Of the edict OF Nantes.
In early life he lived in Bound Brook.
lie received preparatory education at
Plainneld. and finally entered Yale Col
lege. from which he was graduated in
1872. lie began the study OF law in 1872
i'm the office OF Asa Whitehead. in New
ark. and in 1916 he was admitted TO the
bar as an attorney. and three years
later as counsellor. In 1858 he was made
CITY Attorney, and In 1886 city co" .,.ilor
I'm Newark After serving eignt 4 1rs
as councillor he was elected fi1JCr OF
Newark I'm 1864 for a term of two years
on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Run
Won was appointed in 1886 by Governor
Price y commissioner 10 revise and codify
the militia laws. and in the following
year he was appointed a brigadier-gene-
raj. and soon afterward major-gene-
raj. commanding the New Jersey Ma
tional Guard. In 1860 he was chosen a
presidential elector. and cast his vote
for Stephen A. Douglas for President in
the Electoral College.
When the civil war broke out in 1851.
General Runyon was place in command
of the New Jersey Brigade of Volunteers.
IN 1866 General RunyOn was defeated
for Governor by Marcus J.. Ward Re-
publicam. He was commissioner in 1873
20 revise the State Constitution, and
soon afterward was nominated by Gov
ernor Parker for the office Of Chancel-
ior and was confirmed by the Senate.
He was reappointed. and did not retire
from the chancellorship until 1887. when
he was succeeded by Chancellor McGill.
The deeree Of IL u. was conferred
upon him three times. by Yale, Rutgers,
and Wesleyan colleges.
Mr.. Runyon practiced law in Newark
from 1857 10 March. 1899 when President
Cleveland appointed him Ambassador 10
Berlin.
Mr. Runyon was millionaire. lie
made most of his money while Chancel-
Tor OF New Jersey He was appointed
10 mat OlllNt ny NttNfiliUl JUL I n MI
I'm 1870 There was an interesting con-
test at that time between Mr.. Run
yon and Mercer Beasley. the present
Chief Justice. Mr.. RunyOn had been
active in politics In Essex county. par
tlcipating I'm nearly every campaign. Be-
ing forcible speaker and an unswerv-
ing Democrat. ne became the idol OF the
young men Of Essex and Hudson coun-
ties. and they made fight for him.
The Office OF Chancellor was then the
best I'm the gift Of the Governor Of
New Jersey 1t paid a salary of $500
and fees. the fees being double the
amount of the salary. The Governor
was for a time disposed 10 appoint Mr..
Beasley, but delegation after delegation
from Essex and Hudson counties visited
him in the interest Of Theodore Run
yon. and because Of this great pres
sure Governor Parker hOnored him with
the appointment.
Chancellor Runyon had scarcely taken
his place on the bench when the fnar-
cial crash came and The financial de-
preston that followed continued during
his term OF fourteen years. II was a
period Of foreclosure Of mortgages and
railroad litigations: the New Jersey Cen
trail road went into the hands OF
receiver and many New Jersey savings
institutions failed The business Of the
chancery Office was greater than at any
time before or since. and the Chancel-
lor. as well as the Clerk. Henry S. Lit
tie. grew wealthy ont Of the fees that
accrued TO them. 1t is thought that the
Office Of Chancellor during the larger part
Of the term was worth from $4,000
10 $4,000 a year 10 Mr.. Runyon.
The appointment Of Mr.. Runyon as
Ambassador to Germany was a great
surprise. He was pleased with the I'M
sought honor. and promptly accepted
IT, lie was one OF the most popular men
who ever represented the United states
abroad
4 widow two sons. and three daugh-
ters survive Mr.. Runyon. one OF the
daughters ia the wife Of a New York
banker One Of the sons also lives In
New YOrI,