For many years he was identified with various political and civic reform movements, and held the chairmanship of the Civil Service Reform Association of Philadelphia, and of the Indian Rights Association of the same city. He has been awarded the honorary degree of LL.D. by Amherst college (1881), by the University of Pennsylvania (1877), and by Harvard university (1901).
Mr. MacVeagh married a daughter of the late General Simon Cameron for many years United States senator from Pennsylvania. He is a man of great industry and unusual power of application, keen intellect, satirical at will, quick at repartee with an immense fund of legal knowledge and great general versatility. He has been a frequent contributor to the magazines, among his most notable articles, being, "Ethical Ideals in American Politics," to the "Arena"; "Happy Augury of Peace," "International Arbitration Made Attractive," and "Value of the Venezuelan Arbitration," to the "North American Review"; and the "Venezuela Award," to the "Independent."
