John L. Mitchell

John Lendrum Mitchell (October 19, 1842June 29, 1904) was an American politician and philanthropist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A Democrat, he served one term each in the United States Senate (1893–1899) and House of Representatives (1891–1893). Earlier, he was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and a Union Army officer in the American Civil War. He was the son of powerful railroad owner and Milwaukee financier Alexander Mitchell and used his inheritance on significant works of philanthropy in Milwaukee—he is the namesake of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. Additionally, his son, U.S. Army Major General William Lendrum "Billy" Mitchell, is considered the father of the United States Air Force, and the namesake of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Early life