Elihu Root

American politician (1845-1937)
Person human Q220619
Elihu Root
George Prince · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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Elihu Root (February 15, 1845 – February 7, 1937) was a United States politician, lawyer, diplomat, and jurist[1]. Born in Clinton[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10], he died in New York City[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] and was buried at Hamilton College Cemetery[4]. Root attended Hamilton College, New York University School of Law, Columbia University, and Williston Northampton School and worked in law, politics, and diplomacy[1].

Root held key government positions, including United States Secretary of War (1899–1904), United States Secretary of State (1905–1909), and United States senator from New York (1909–1913)[11]. He was married to Clara Frances Wales and had three children: Edith Root, Elihu Root Jr., and Edward Wales Root[12]. His career earned him numerous honors, such as the Nobel Peace Prize, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown, and honorary degrees from Leiden University and the University of Paris[13][14][15][16].

Root was a member of prestigious organizations, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa Society, American Philosophical Society, and American Academy of Arts and Letters[17]. He also received recognition as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association[13][14][15][16].

Elihu Root

Summary

Elihu Root is a human[1]. Born in Clinton[2], he… he was born on February 15, 1845[3]. He passed away in New York City[4]. He died on February 7, 1937[5]. He worked as a politician[6], lawyer[7], diplomat[8], and jurist[9]. He ranks in the top 0.69% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (1,064 views/month, #6,929 of 1,000,298).[10]

Key Facts

  • Elihu Root was born in Clinton[2].
  • Elihu Root passed away in New York City[4].
  • Elihu Root was born on February 15, 1845[3].
  • Elihu Root died on February 7, 1937[5].
  • Elihu Root is buried at Hamilton College Cemetery[11].
  • Elihu Root's father was Oren Root[12].
  • Elihu Root's mother was Nancy Whitney Buttrick[13].
  • Elihu Root was married to Clara Frances Wales[14].
  • A child of Elihu Root was Edith Root[15].
  • A child of Elihu Root was Elihu Root Jr.[16].
  • A child of Elihu Root was Edward Wales Root[17].
  • Elihu Root held citizenship in United States[18].
  • Elihu Root worked as a politician[6].
  • Elihu Root worked as a lawyer[7].
  • Elihu Root worked as a diplomat[8].
  • Elihu Root worked as a jurist[9].
  • Elihu Root's field of work was law[19].
  • Elihu Root's field of work was politics[20].
  • Elihu Root's field of work was diplomacy[21].
  • Elihu Root held the position of United States Secretary of State[22].
  • Elihu Root held the position of United States Secretary of War[23].
  • Elihu Root held the position of United States senator[24].
  • Elihu Root held the position of United States senator[25].
  • Elihu Root held the position of United States senator[26].
  • Elihu Root was educated at Hamilton College[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Elihu Root was born in Clinton[2]. He was born on February 15, 1845[3]. His father was Oren Root[12]. His mother was Nancy Whitney Buttrick[13].

Education

Educated at Hamilton College[27], a liberal arts college in the United States[28], in United States[29], founded in 1793[30]; New York University School of Law[31], a law school[32], in United States[33], founded in 1835[34]; Columbia University[35], a private university[36], in United States[37], founded in 1754[38], headquartered in Manhattan[39]; and Williston Northampton School[40], a school[41], in United States[42], founded in 1841[43].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include politician[6], lawyer[7], diplomat[8], and jurist[9]. Fields of work include law[19], an academic discipline[44]; politics[20], an academic discipline[45]; and diplomacy[21], an academic discipline[46]. Positions held include United States Secretary of State[22], a public office[47], in United States[48], founded in 1789[49]; United States Secretary of War[23], a position[50], in United States[51], founded in 1789[52]; and United States senator[24], a position[53], in United States[54].

Recognition

Awards received include Nobel Peace Prize[55], Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown[56], Fellow of the American Statistical Association[57], Honorary doctor of Leiden University[58], and doctor honoris causa from the University of Paris[59].

Personal Life

Among Elihu Root's spouses was Clara Frances Wales[14]. Children include Edith Root[15], 1878–1962[60], of United States[61]; Elihu Root Jr.[16], a lawyer[62], 1881–1967[63], of United States[64]; and Edward Wales Root[17], an art collector[65], 1884–1956[66], of United States[67]. He was affiliated with the Republican Party[68].

Death and Burial

Elihu Root died on February 7, 1937[5]. He passed away in New York City[4]. Burial took place at Hamilton College Cemetery[11].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Elihu Root include Root–Takahira Agreement[69], a treaty[70].

Why It Matters

Elihu Root ranks in the top 0.69% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (1,064 views/month, #6,929 of 1,000,298).[10] He has Wikipedia articles in 26 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[71] He is known by 12 alternative names across languages and contexts.[72]

Entities named for him include Root–Takahira Agreement[69], a treaty[70].

FAQs

Where was Elihu Root born?

Elihu Root was born in Clinton[2].

Where did Elihu Root die?

Elihu Root passed away in New York City[4].

Who were Elihu Root's parents?

Elihu Root's father was Oren Root[12]. Elihu Root's mother was Nancy Whitney Buttrick[13].

Who was Elihu Root married to?

Elihu Root's spouses include Clara Frances Wales[14].

What did Elihu Root do for work?

Elihu Root worked as politician[6], lawyer[7], diplomat[8], and jurist[9].

Where did Elihu Root go to school?

Elihu Root was educated at Hamilton College[27], New York University School of Law[31], Columbia University[35], and Williston Northampton School[40].

What awards did Elihu Root receive?

Honors received include Nobel Peace Prize[55], Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown[56], Fellow of the American Statistical Association[57], and Honorary doctor of Leiden University[58].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . archive.org. archive.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . wikidata.org.
  3. [12] . wikidata.org.
  4. [13] . wikidata.org.
  5. [14] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  6. [18] . wikidata.org.
  7. [22] . wikidata.org.
  8. [23] . wikidata.org.
  9. [24] . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [25] . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [26] . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [15] . The Peerage. wikidata.org.
  13. [16] . wikidata.org.
  14. [17] . wikidata.org.
  15. [27] . wikidata.org.
  16. [31] . wikidata.org.
  17. [35] . wikidata.org.
  18. [40] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  19. [19] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  20. [20] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  21. [21] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  22. [68] . wikidata.org.
  23. [6] . wikidata.org.
  24. [7] . wikidata.org.
  25. [8] . wikidata.org.
  26. [9] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  27. [11] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  28. [55] . nobelprize.org. nobelprize.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  29. [56] . wikidata.org.
  30. [57] . wikidata.org.
  31. [58] . universiteitleiden.nl. universiteitleiden.nl. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  32. [59] . Annales de l'Université de Paris. gallica.bnf.fr. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  33. [3] . Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved . archive.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  34. [5] . Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [69] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [63] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [10] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [71] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [72] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Elihu Root. Retrieved April 19, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/elihu-root
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BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_elihu-root_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Elihu Root}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/elihu-root}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-19}}
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Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 1d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb
    Occupation politician, lawyer, diplomat +1
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32081|batch #32081]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (23)"
  2. 13d ago · Printstream · 2026-05-07 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14396 register/person/arw-119243342
    Local thumb
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P14396]]: register/person/arw-119243342, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1778148440554"
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