William M. Ampt

William M. Ampt, also known as Citizen Ampt[1][2] for his "staunch views on the duties of a citizen",[3] (February 1, 1840, in Trenton, Ohio – December 16, 1909, in Cincinnati, Ohio)[4] was an American lawyer.

He was born on February 1, 1840, in Trenton, Ohio, to Francis Ampt of Hesse-Darmstadt and Kunigunda Rosa of Bavaria.

[5] After graduating from Oberlin College (as valedictorian) in 1862,[5] he attended the Albany Law School[4] and subsequently served as city solicitor of Lima, Ohio,[4] and, from 1871 to 1873,[6] as prosecuting attorney of Hamilton County, Ohio;[4] after his term as prosecutor ended, he never ran for office again.

In 1876, he played a role in the disputed presidential election, traveling to Florida, where he convinced electoral officers to reject votes from two pro-Tilden precincts in Hamilton County.

[1] Upon his death, it was revealed that Ampt had bequeathed nearly his entire estate (worth $150,000 in 1909 money) to the city of Cincinnati, to sponsor free public concerts;[2] these concerts were still taking place as of 2012.