Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 63

Richard Olney

Lawyer and cabinet member, born in Oxford, Massachusetts, USA. A brilliant if forbidding Boston lawyer (1859–93), he was President Grover Cleveland's attorney general (1893–5), best known for ending the Pullman strike led by Eugene Debs, but he did go on to support the rights of organized labour. As secretary of state (1895–7), he settled the boundary dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana, and defended the rights of American nationals in Cuba and China. He then retired to his law practice. He remains best known for setting forth (in 1895) what has become known as the Olney corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, namely, that ‘the United States is practically sovereign on this continent’ (of South America).

Richard Olney

41st United States Attorney General
In office
March 6, 1893 – April 7, 1895
Preceded by William H.H. Miller
Succeeded by Judson Harmon
34th United States Secretary of State
In office
June 10, 1895 – March 5, 1897
Preceded by Walter Q. Gresham
Succeeded by John Sherman
Born September 15, 1835
Oxford, Massachusetts, USA
Died April 8, 1917
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Political party Democratic
Spouse Agnes Park Thomas
Profession Lawyer, Politician


Richard Olney (September 15, 1835 – April 8, 1917) was an American statesman.

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