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Mr. Meegan had passed with great credit through his studentship, which was full and unconditional, and during that period he had with his own hands conducted many hundred cases through all the intricacies of the Code. When he commenced practice for himself he was therefore a trained and experienced lawyer, and signal success at once attended his efforts. He has been a lifelong Democrat. In May, 1869, he was elected corporation counsel, and on entering upon the duties of that office was confronted with a large amount of unfinished work. He continued in the position until 1874, and saved for the city during his official career more than half a million of dollars. In this capacity he had gained a large experience in the management of city cases, and when he resumed his private practice he was retained as counsel in many of this class of cases, in every one of which he was successful. He has won a wide reputation as an able civil and criminal lawyer. He is also a distinguished orator, a great lover of books, and the owner of a well-selected private library. His law library is one of the largest if not the largest in the State.
Mr. Meegan was married, first, on September 5, 1878, to Miss Katie E. Welch, of Albany, who died in January, 1884. September 24, 1886, he married, second, Miss Mary Mattimore, of Albany by whom he has had two daughters and two sons, of whom one daughter is deceased.
Edward J. Meegan, son of Thomas and Sarah Meegan, was born in the city of Albany on September 28, 1846. His parents were natives of Ireland, whence they came to this country in 1824, settling first in Boston, Mass. About 1826 they removed to Albany, where they died. Mr. Meegan early evinced a strong love of learning, and also as a youth displayed those qualities which make the successful man. Attending St. Joseph's parish school he became a close student and thoroughly mastered the elementary principles of a general education. From the first he was determined to become a lawyer, but owing to the limited pecuniary means of the family he was obliged to rely mainly upon himself for the prosecution and completion of his literary and professional studies. When only thirteen years of age he registered as a student at law in the office of Edwards & Sturtevant, then a prominent firm at the Albany bar. He remained with them nearly seven years, and also pursued his legal studies under Isaac Edwards, who was afterward president of the Albany Law School. The law had for the young student no drudgery, but a mine of wealth which he explored and mastered with remarkable quickness. He was indeed a born lawyer, imbued with the highest principles of the law as a science. Upon attaining his majority in 1867 he was admitted to the bar, and opening an office in Albany he immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession.