James Bennett McCREARY, Congress, KY (1838-1918)

McCREARY James Bennett , a Representative and a Senator from Kentucky; born in Richmond, Madison County, Ky., July 8, 1838; attended the common schools; graduated from Centre College, Danville, Ky., in 1857 and from the law department of Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn., in 1859; admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice in Richmond, Ky.; entered the Confederate Army in 1862 and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before the close of the Civil War; member, State house of representatives 1869-1875, serving as speaker 1871-1875; Governor of Kentucky 1875-1879; appointed by President Benjamin Harrison a delegate to the International Monetary Conference held in Brussels, Belgium, in 1892; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1885-March 3, 1897); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1896; resumed the practice of law; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1902 and served from March 4, 1903, to March 3, 1909; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1908; Governor of Kentucky 1912-1916; unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1914; resumed the practice of law; died in Richmond, Ky., October 8, 1918; interment in Richmond Cemetery.

Bibliography

Dictionary of American Biography; Burckel, Nicholas C. "From Beckham to McCreary: The Progressive Record of Kentucky Governors." Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 76 (October 1978): 285-306; McCreary, James B. Progress in Arbitration. Washington: Peace and Arbitration League, 1909.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present