William M. Butler

Summary

William Morgan Butler (January 29, 1861 – March 29, 1937) was a lawyer and legislator for the State of Massachusetts, and a United States Senator.

William Butler
Butler in 1924
United States Senator
from Massachusetts
In office
November 13, 1924 – December 6, 1926
Appointed byChanning Cox
Preceded byHenry Cabot Lodge
Succeeded byDavid I. Walsh
Chair of the Republican National Committee
In office
May 2, 1924 – July 24, 1928
Preceded byJohn T. Adams
Succeeded byHubert Work
President of the Massachusetts Senate
In office
1894–1895
Preceded byAlfred Pinkerton
Succeeded byGeorge P. Lawrence
Personal details
Born
William Morgan Butler

(1861-01-29)January 29, 1861
New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMarch 29, 1937(1937-03-29) (aged 76)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationBoston University (LLB)

Biography edit

Butler was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he attended the public school and studied law. He was admitted to the State bar in 1883. After graduating from the law department of Boston University in 1884, he practiced law in New Bedford until 1895. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1890 to 1891, and a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 1892 to 1895, serving as its President in 1894 and 1895.

Butler moved to Boston in 1895, and continued the practice of law until 1912, when he engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods. He was a member of the commission to revise the statutes of Massachusetts from 1896 to 1900, and was chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1924 to 1928.

On November 13, 1924, Butler was appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Cabot Lodge, and served from November 13, 1924, to December 6, 1926, when a successor was elected. His bid for election to fill the vacancy was unsuccessful.

Butler served as chairman of the Committee on Patents in the 69th Congress, and then resumed his manufacturing interests. He thereafter resided in Boston. In 1932, Butler sought to return to the Republican National Committee, but was defeated by John Richardson by a vote of 18 to 15.[1] Butler died on March 29, 1937, and was interred in Forest Hills Cemetery.

See also edit

Sources edit

  • United States Congress. "William M. Butler (id: B001196)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  1. ^ Hennessy, M. E. (June 14, 1932). "Butler Beaten for Committee". The Boston Daily Globe.

External links edit

  • 1927 Time cover featuring Butler
  • Political Graveyard
Political offices
Preceded by
Alfred Pinkerton
President of the Massachusetts Senate
1894–1895
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Republican National Committee
1924–1928
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
(Class 1)

1926
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
(Class 2)

1930
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Massachusetts
1924–1926
Served alongside: David I. Walsh
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Patents Committee
1924–1926
Succeeded by