The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Knapp, Martin Augustine

KNAPP, Martin Augustine, American judge: b. Spafford, N. Y., 6 Nov. 1843. Ha. was graduated at Wesleyan University, Connecticut (1868), received the degree of LL.D., and was admitted to the bar (1869), being appointed corporation counsel (1877-83) in Syracuse. In 1891 he was appointed interstate commerce commissioner by President Harrison, reappointed (1897) by President Cleveland, and again reappointed (1902) by President Roosevelt, becoming chairman of the commission from 1898. Under the Erdman Act as ex officio mediator, he assisted in the work of settlement of numerous labor disputes. He was appointed by President Taft additional circuit judge and assigned for five years to the United States Commercial Court as presiding judge, entering office 31 Dec. 1910, but immediately resigning. He was appointed a mediator for two years from 4 March 1911, becoming member of the Board of Mediation and Conciliation under the Newlands Act (1913), by appointment of President Wilson. On the dissolution of the Commerce Court (13 Dec. 1913) he was assigned by the chief justice to the Circuit Court of Appeals, 4th Judicial Circuit. He is member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the American Economic Association, American Political Science Association, National Geographical Society, etc.