Difference between revisions of "George W. McCrary"
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==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
| + | McCrary joined the newly established [[Republican Party]] in the 1850s, with which he remained affiliated with for the rest of his life.<ref name=iowadictionarybio/> In the [[United States presidential election, 1856|1856 presidential election]], he voted for party nominee [[John C. Fremont]]. | ||
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In 1857, McCrary was elected to the lower body of the Iowa legislature, where he served for a term.<ref name=iowalegislaturebio/> 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/> | In 1857, McCrary was elected to the lower body of the Iowa legislature, where he served for a term.<ref name=iowalegislaturebio/> 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/> | ||
Revision as of 02:29, November 29, 2021
| George Washington McCrary | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Former U.S. Representative from Iowa's 1st Congressional District From: March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1877 | |||
| Predecessor | James F. Wilson | ||
| Successor | Joseph C. Stone | ||
| Former State Senator from Iowa's 1st District From: January 13, 1862 – January 7, 1866 | |||
| Predecessor | ??? | ||
| Successor | ??? | ||
| Former State Representative from Iowa's 55th District From: January 1, 1858 – January 8, 1860 | |||
| Predecessor | ??? | ||
| Successor | ??? | ||
| Information | |||
| Party | Republican | ||
| Spouse(s) | Helen A. Gelatt | ||
| Religion | Unitarian[1] | ||
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 near Evansville, Indiana to James McCrary and the former Matilda Forrest as one of seven children. The family moved to Van Buren County, Iowa in 1837 when it was only a territory,[2] where McCrary worked on a farm,[2] attended rural public schools and proceeded to start studying law in 1854.[3] After admission to the state bar in 1856, he commenced practice.
When preparing to become a lawyer, McCrary studied with future state legislator Henry Clay "H. C." Traverse.[4]
Political career
McCrary joined the newly established Republican Party in the 1850s, with which he remained affiliated with for the rest of his life.[2] In the 1856 presidential election, he voted for party nominee John C. Fremont.
In 1857, McCrary was elected to the lower body of the Iowa legislature, where he served for a term.[1] 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."[1]
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.[5] He was re-elected three times, although his margin of victory in the 1874 midterm race was considerably narrower.[6]
During the electoral disputes surrounding the 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.[7] The established Electoral Commission ultimately gave the presidency to Hayes while severely compromising Reconstruction efforts in the South.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 George Washington McCrary. The Iowa Legislature. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Goedeken, Edward A. McCrary, George Washington. The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ MCCRARY, GEORGE W. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ Henry Clay Traverse. The Iowa Legislature. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ IA - District 01 Race - Oct 13, 1868. Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ Candidate - George Washington McCrary. Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ Hayes vs. Tilden: The Electoral College Controversy of 1876-1877. HarpWeek. Retrieved November 28, 2021.