Michael Joseph Cleary was a lawyer, politician and life insurance executive born in Moscow.

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1901, and practiced law at Blanchardville from 1901 until 1915. A Republican, he was state assemblyman from 1907 until 1910 and state insurance commissioner from 1915 until 1919.

In 1919 he moved to Milwaukee where he was vice-president of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1919 until 1932 and then president until 1947.

He was a regent of the University of Wisconsin from 1946 until 1947, a member of the board of governors of Marquette Univ. from 1944 until 1947, and was active in the Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association, the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and many other civic, business, and professional organizations. 

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Michael Joseph Cleary

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