John William Griggs was born at Newton, New Jersey, July 10, 1849. He
was graduated from Lafayette college in 1868, and, after studying law,
was admitted to the bar in 1871. He practiced law at Paterson until
1876, in which year he was elected a member of the New Jersey general
assembly. In 1886 he was president of the New Jersey senate. He was
elected governor of New Jersey in 1896, which office he resigned to
accept the office of attorney-general of the United States. He resigned
the attorney-generalship in 1901.