Silas H. Strawn

Silas Hardy Strawn (1866–1946) was a prominent Chicago lawyer and one of the name partners at the law firm of Winston & Strawn. He was also the president of the United States Chamber of Commerce during the early years of the Great Depression, in which capacity he supported the policies of Herbert Hoover and was a noted opponent of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.

Strawn was born on December 15, 1866, on the family farm near Ottawa, Illinois. He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1885 and spent the next two years as a teacher. In 1887, he studied law in the Ottawa law firm Bull & Strawn. He was admitted to the bar of Illinois in May 1889. He established his own law practice in LaSalle County, Illinois.

Strawn relocated to Chicago in September 1891, taking a position with Weigley, Buckley & Gray. In 1892, he joined Winston & Meagher and became a partner at the firm on September 1, 1894.

On June 22, 1897, he married Margaret Stewart of Binghamton, New York; their marriage would produce two daughters, Margaret and Katherine Stewart.

In 1902, Meagher retired and the firm was renamed Winston, Strawn & Shaw. (It would later be known as Winston, Payne & Strawn; then as Winston, Payne, Strawn & Shaw; until finally becoming simply Winston & Strawn.) Strawn would ultimately practice law with the firm for 52 years, serving as managing partner for 40 years.

A member of both the prestigious Glen View Club and Chicago Golf Clubs, Strawn served as president of the United States Golf Association from 1911-1912.

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