William S. McNary

McNary was born in Abington, Massachusetts, McNary attended the public schools of Abington and graduated from the Boston English High School. After graduation, McNary was a reporter and managing editor of The Boston Commercial Bulletin from 1880 to 1892. McNary engaged in the insurance business and a dealt in real estate. ==Entry into politics==

McNary served as member of the City of Boston Common Council in 1887 and 1888. McNary served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1889 to 1890 and the Massachusetts Senate from 1891 to 1892. As State Senator, McNary served as an alternative delegate to the 1892 Democratic National Convention. In 1893, Robert Grant resigned his position on the Boston Water Board and McNary was appointed to fill the vacancy in July. He served until 1894. Failed congressional runs In 1892, McNary secured the Democratic nomination for Massachusetts's 10th congressional district, centered on the heavily Irish Catholic industrial neighborhoods of South Boston, Roxbury, and Dorchester. The district was one of the most Democratic in the overwhelmingly Republican state. However, State Senator Michael McEttrick, running as an independent Democrat, won the race in a three-way contest against McNary and Republican Harrison Atwood. Return to state politics In 1898, McNary was elected secretary of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee. In 1900, McNary returned to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and was elected Chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. McNary was elected a delegate to the 1900 and 1904 Conventions. == U.S. Representative ==

Elections In 1902, incumbent Irish-born Representative Henry F. Naphen hoped to run again, but McNary used his position as party chair to force Naphen into retirement. With McNary in control of the party apparatus, Naphen decided to quietly drop out of the race rather than after a fight. With the nomination secure, McNary won an easy victory over Republican William W. Towle by a plurality of 6,195 votes. In 1904, McNary defeated Republican nominee J. B. Crawford by 6,471 votes. ==Later career==

After retiring from Congress, McNary continued his business pursuits in Boston, Massachusetts. He formed The Drake and Hershey Company, a company that dealt in furniture. In 1915, McNary was one of the founders of the Hanover Trust and served as one of its directors. In 1912, Governor Eugene Foss appointed McNary to the Massachusetts Harbor and Land Commission. McNary served as its chairman for four years. McNary was also an associate member of the Boston Port Directors for two years. In 1916, Governor Samuel McCall appointed McNary as a member of the Waterways and Public Lands Commission. ==Death and burial==

McNary died in Boston on June 26, 1930, and was interred in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts. == References ==