William Sarsfield McNary (March 29, 1863 – June 26, 1930) was a
U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Early years
McNary was born in
Abington, MassachusettsAs of the census of 2000, there were 14,605 people, 5,263 households, and 3,747 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,469.1 people per square mile . There were 5,348 housing units at an average density of 538.0 per square mile...
, McNary attended the public schools of Abington and graduated from the Boston English High School.
He engaged in newspaper work.
Journalism career
McNary was a reporter and managing editor of
The Boston Commercial Bulletin from 1880 to 1892.
Boston Common Council
McNary served as member of the City of Boston Common Council in 1887 and 1888.
Massachusetts Legislature
McNary served in the Massachusetts Legislature as a member of the
Massachusetts House of RepresentativesThe Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1889 to 1890 and from 1900 to 1902 and as a member of the
Massachusetts SenateThe Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
from 1891 to 1892.
Boston Water Board
In 1893
Judge Robert GrantRobert Grant was an American author and a jurist who participated in a review of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial a few weeks before their executions.-Biography:...
resigned his position on the Boston Water Board, in July 1893 McNary was appointed by Mayor
MatthewsNathan Matthews, Jr. was an American politician from Massachusetts who served as Mayor of Boston from 1891–1894.-Biography:...
to fill the vacancy. McNary's appointment was confirmed by the Board of Aldermen and he served as a member of the Water Board from 1893 to 1894.
Democratic State Committee
McNary was secretary of the Democratic State committee from 1898 to 1900, and served as the chairman of the committee from 1900 to 1904.
Democratic National Conventions
McNary was an alternate delegate at large to the Democratic National Convention in 1892. and as an at large delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1900 and was also a delegate in 1904.
1892 and 1894
In 1892 and 1894 McNary was the Democratic Nominee for Congress in Massachusetts 10th Congressional District. He was unsuccessful in both of these elections. At the time the Massachusetts 10th Congressional District consisted of South Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, the City of Quincy and the Town of Milton.
1892
Although he was the official nominee of the Democratic party, McNary lost the 1892 election to independent Democratic candidate
Michael J. McEttrickMichael Joseph McEttrick was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.McEttrick was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, he graduated from the Washington Grammar and the Roxbury Latin Schools.He became a journalist....
. That contest was a four way race between McNary, McEttrick, Harrison Atwood the Republican nominee and independent Republican candidate Richard C. Humphreys. McNary came in third behing Atwood and the winner McEttrick.
1894
McNary again was the official nominee of the Democratic Party in the 1894 general election. McNary ran against incumbent Congressman independent Democratic candidate
Michael J. McEttrickMichael Joseph McEttrick was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.McEttrick was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, he graduated from the Washington Grammar and the Roxbury Latin Schools.He became a journalist....
, Republican nominee
Harrison H. AtwoodHarrison Henry Atwood was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1896, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1923, 1924, 1927, and 1928.-Biography:...
, independent Republican candidate Frederick W. Peobody and Socialist candidate Michael D. Fitzgerald of
LynnLynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
. In this five way race McNary lost the 1894 election to
AtwoodHarrison Henry Atwood was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1896, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1923, 1924, 1927, and 1928.-Biography:...
.
1902 and 1904
McNary was elected as a
DemocratThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the
Fifty-eighth- House of Representatives :* Republican : 209 * Democratic : 176* Silver Republican : 1TOTAL members: 386-Senate:* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: William P. Frye -Members:...
and
Fifty-ninth CongressesThe Fifty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1905 to March 4, 1907, during the fifth and sixth...
(March 4, 1903-March 3, 1907). McNary was not a candidate for renomination in 1906.
1902 Election
In 1902 the incumbent congressman
Henry F. NaphenHenry Francis Naphen was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in Ireland, to John and Jane Naphen, Naphen immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Lowell, Massachusetts....
wanted to run again, however McNary who was chairman of the Democratic State committee wanted the nomination and McNary forced
NaphenHenry Francis Naphen was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in Ireland, to John and Jane Naphen, Naphen immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Lowell, Massachusetts....
to retire from the race. As McNary controlled the apparatus of the districts Democratic party Naphen decided to quietly drop out of the race rather than after a fight.
In the 1902 general election, McNary as the nominee of the Democratic party faced Republican nominee William W. Towle and Socialist candidate John Weaver Sherman. McNary won the election with a 6,195 vote plurality over the second place candidate William W. Towle.
1904 Election
In the 1904 election McNary was again the nominee of the Democratic party, in the general election he faced Republican nominee J. B. Crawford and Socialist candidate W. T. Richards. McNary won the election receiving 19,211 votes to 12,740 votes for Crawford and 1,572 votes for Richards.
1910
In 1910 McNary ran as a candidate for the Sixty second Congress, he sought the
DemocratThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for the Massachusetts Tenth Congressional district, against Boston City Councilor
James Michael CurleyJames Michael Curley was an American politician famous for his four terms as mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. He also served twice in the United States House of Representatives and one term as 53rd Governor of Massachusetts.-Early life:Curley's father, Michael Curley, left Oughterard, County...
and incumbent Congressman
Joseph F. O'ConnellJoseph Francis O'Connell was a Massachusetts lawyer, law professor, politician and U.S. Representative.-Early life:...
, in the primary election McNary came in third behind Curley and O'Connell.
Business career
McNary continued his business pursuits in Boston, Massachusetts.
McNary retired from Congress in 1907 to form The Drake and Hershey Company, a company that dealt in furniture.
In 1915 McNary was one of the founders of the Hanover Trust and was also one of its directors.
Massachusetts Harbor and Land Commission
In 1912 Massachusetts
Governor FossEugene Noble Foss, was an American Representative and the 45th Governor of Massachusetts, as well as brother of George Edmund Foss.-Biography:...
appointed McNary a Commissioner of the Massachusetts Harbor and Land Commission, he served as its chairman for four years.
Boston Port Directors
McNary was an associate member of the Boston Port Directors for two years.
Waterways and Public Lands Commission
In 1916
Governor McCallSamuel Walker McCall was a member of the United States House of Representatives, and the 47th Governor of Massachusetts...
appointed McNary as a member of the Waterways and Public Lands Commission.
Death and Burial
McNary died in Boston on June 26, 1930 and he was interred in St. Joseph's Cemetery,
West Roxbury, MassachusettsWest Roxbury is a neighborhood in Boston bordered by Roslindale to the north, the Town of Dedham to the east and south, the Town of Brookline and the City of Newton to the west. Many people mistakenly confuse West Roxbury with Roxbury, but the two are not connected. West Roxbury is separated from...
.