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'''George Washington McCrary''' (August 29, 1835 – June 23, 1890) was a [[Republican]] from [[Iowa]] who represented the state's 1st congressional district for four terms, subsequently serving as [[Secretary of War]] under the presidency of [[Rutherford B. Hayes]]. McCrary was also appointed by Hayes to become a judge on a federal circuit court.
==Background==
McCrary was born in Evansville, [[Indiana]] to James McCrary and the former Matilda Forrest as one of seven children. The family moved to Iowa when it was only a territory, where McCrary attended public schools and proceeded to start studying law in 1854.<ref name=papers>[https://www.rbhayes.org/collection-items/gilded-age-collections/mccrary-george-w./ MCCRARY, GEORGE W.] ''Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref> After admission to the state bar in 1856, he proceeded to commence practice.
When preparing to become a [[lawyer]], McCrary studied with future state legislator Henry Clay "H. C." Traverse.<ref>[https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=4592 Henry Clay Traverse]. ''The Iowa Legislature''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref>
==Political career==
In 1857, McCrary was elected to the lower body of the Iowa legislature, where he served for a term.<ref name=iowalegislaturebio>[https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=5377 George Washington McCrary]. ''The Iowa Legislature''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref> He later ran for state Senate from the 1st district, where he was elected twice. While young, McCrary was described as an "able and influential legislator."<ref name=iowalegislaturebio/>
===U.S. House of Representatives===
In 1868, McCrary sought a U.S. House seat from Iowa's 1st congressional district to succeed [[Radical Republican]] [[James F. Wilson]]. He faced Democrat T. W. Clagett in the general election, and easily won by a margin of seventeen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=474184 IA - District 01 Race - Oct 13, 1868]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected three times, although his margin of victory in the 1874 midterm race was considerably narrower.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=20299 Candidate - George Washington McCrary]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref>
During the electoral disputes surrounding the [[United States presidential election, 1876|1876 presidential election]] between [[Rutherford Hayes]] and [[Samuel J. Tilden]], McCrary introduced legislation along with Half-Breed senator [[George F. Edmunds]] of [[Vermont]] to appoint committees that would resolve the matter.<ref>[https://elections.harpweek.com/09Ver2Controversy/Overview-3.asp Hayes vs. Tilden: The Electoral College Controversy of 1876-1877]. ''HarpWeek''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref> The established Electoral Commission ultimately gave the presidency to Hayes while severely compromising [[Reconstruction]] efforts in [[the South]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCrary, George W.}}
[[Category:Iowa]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
==Background==
McCrary was born in Evansville, [[Indiana]] to James McCrary and the former Matilda Forrest as one of seven children. The family moved to Iowa when it was only a territory, where McCrary attended public schools and proceeded to start studying law in 1854.<ref name=papers>[https://www.rbhayes.org/collection-items/gilded-age-collections/mccrary-george-w./ MCCRARY, GEORGE W.] ''Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref> After admission to the state bar in 1856, he proceeded to commence practice.
When preparing to become a [[lawyer]], McCrary studied with future state legislator Henry Clay "H. C." Traverse.<ref>[https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=4592 Henry Clay Traverse]. ''The Iowa Legislature''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref>
==Political career==
In 1857, McCrary was elected to the lower body of the Iowa legislature, where he served for a term.<ref name=iowalegislaturebio>[https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=5377 George Washington McCrary]. ''The Iowa Legislature''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref> He later ran for state Senate from the 1st district, where he was elected twice. While young, McCrary was described as an "able and influential legislator."<ref name=iowalegislaturebio/>
===U.S. House of Representatives===
In 1868, McCrary sought a U.S. House seat from Iowa's 1st congressional district to succeed [[Radical Republican]] [[James F. Wilson]]. He faced Democrat T. W. Clagett in the general election, and easily won by a margin of seventeen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=474184 IA - District 01 Race - Oct 13, 1868]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected three times, although his margin of victory in the 1874 midterm race was considerably narrower.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=20299 Candidate - George Washington McCrary]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref>
During the electoral disputes surrounding the [[United States presidential election, 1876|1876 presidential election]] between [[Rutherford Hayes]] and [[Samuel J. Tilden]], McCrary introduced legislation along with Half-Breed senator [[George F. Edmunds]] of [[Vermont]] to appoint committees that would resolve the matter.<ref>[https://elections.harpweek.com/09Ver2Controversy/Overview-3.asp Hayes vs. Tilden: The Electoral College Controversy of 1876-1877]. ''HarpWeek''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref> The established Electoral Commission ultimately gave the presidency to Hayes while severely compromising [[Reconstruction]] efforts in [[the South]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCrary, George W.}}
[[Category:Iowa]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]