James M. Mead

James Michael Mead
United States Senator from New York
In office December 3, 1938 – January 3, 1947
Preceded by	Royal S. Copeland
Succeeded by	Irving M. Ives
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 42nd district
In office March 4, 1919 – December 2, 1938
Preceded by	William F. Waldow
Succeeded by	Pius L. Schwert
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Erie County, 4th district
In office January 1, 1915 – December 31, 1918
Preceded by	Patrick W. Quigley
Succeeded by	Andrew T. Beasley
Personal details
Born	(1885-12-27)December 27, 1885 Mount Morris, New York
Died	Lakeland, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Buffalo, New York
Religion	Roman Catholic

James Michael Mead (December 27, 1885 – March 15, 1964) represented New York in the United States Senate from 1938 until 1947.

Biography

Born in Mount Morris, Livingston County, New York, Mead moved to Buffalo with his family at the age of four. He served on the Erie County, New York Board of Supervisors (County Council) in 1914; and was a member of the New York State Assembly (Erie Co., 4th D.) in 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918.

In 1918, Mead defeated incumbent Republican congressman William Frederick Waldow for New York’s 42nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He held the seat from 1919 to 1938. Mead left the house after defeating Republican Edward F. Corsi in 1938 to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant after Royal S. Copeland died in office. He was re-elected in 1940, defeating two-term Republican Congressman Bruce Barton.

Mead was the Democratic candidate for Governor of New York in 1946, losing to Republican incumbent Thomas Dewey. After his defeat, Mead served on the Federal Trade Commission from 1949 to 1955.

Mead was a New York delegate to Democratic National Convention in every presidential election year from 1936 to 1952. In 1937, the Works Progress Administration built what would eventually become the James Mead Library in Senator Mead’s hometown of Buffalo, New York.

Mead died in Lakeland, Florida and was buried at Oakhill Cemetery in Clermont, Florida.

References

• James M. Mead at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with James M. Mead (September 3, 1952)" is available at the Internet Archive

New York Assembly
Preceded by Patrick W. Quigley	New York State Assembly Erie County, 4th District 1915–1918	Succeeded by Andrew Beasley
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William F. Waldow	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 42nd congressional district 1919–1938	Succeeded by Pius L. Schwert
Preceded by Royal S. Copeland	U.S. Senator (Class 1) from New York 1938–1947	Succeeded by Irving M. Ives
Party political offices
Preceded by John J. Bennett, Jr.	Democratic Nominee for Governor of New York 1946	Succeeded by Walter A. Lynch