Joseph Maull Carey (1845–1924) was a prominent lawyer, rancher, and politician who played a key role in Wyoming’s early statehood and politics. Born in Delaware, he studied law at the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced law in the eastern U.S. before being appointed U.S. attorney for the Wyoming Territory in 1869 by President Ulysses S. Grant. He later served as an associate justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court and became Cheyenne’s 14th mayor, focusing on public works.
Carey was instrumental in Wyoming’s path to statehood. As a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, he introduced legislation that led to Wyoming’s admission as a state in 1890. He was elected one of Wyoming’s first U.S. senators, serving alongside Francis E. Warren. Carey was a lifelong advocate for progressive causes, including women’s suffrage, and was involved in national Republican politics.
In 1910, Carey switched parties and was elected governor of Wyoming as a Democrat. His tenure as governor (1911–1915) was marked by support for progressive reforms. His son, Robert D. Carey, later followed in his footsteps, becoming governor of Wyoming.
Joseph Carey died in 1924, leaving a legacy as a key figure in Wyoming’s development and a champion of statehood and progressive policies.
