James B. McCreary

James B. McCreary

James Bennett McCreary (born July 8, 1838 in Richmond , Madison County , Kentucky , † October 8, 1918 ibid) was an American politician and two-time governor of Kentucky. He also represented this state in both chambers of Congress .

Early years

The young James McCreary attended local elementary schools in his home country and then Center College , which he successfully completed in 1857. This was followed by a law degree at Cumberland University in Tennessee . After his admission to the bar, he practiced in Richmond. In the conflict between the northern and southern states , he was on the southern side. In 1862, he joined the Confederation Army as a major . He took part in a number of battles, became a prisoner of war and was released through a prisoner exchange. In the end he was a lieutenant colonel. After the end of the war he became a lawyer again.

Political career

His political rise began in 1869 when he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives as a Democratic Party member . He kept his mandate until 1875. From 1871 he was President of Parliament ( Speaker ). For the gubernatorial elections of 1875 he was put up by his party as a candidate and elected governor of Kentucky with 58.3% of the vote against Republican John Marshall Harlan (41.7%).

First term as governor

McCreary's first term was uneventful. He campaigned for the further expansion of the education system, promoted river navigation and supported prison reform. He also lowered property taxes and created a kind of Ministry of Health ( State Board of Health ). He also had to deal with unrest in the eastern parts of the country.

In Congress

Between 1885 and 1897, McCreary was a member of the US House of Representatives in Washington . In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him one of the American delegates to the International Monetary Conference in Brussels . From 1903 to 1909 McCreary represented his home state as a senator in Congress.

Second term as governor

In 1911 his party nominated him again for the office of governor. He won the election with 53.7% of the vote against EC O'Rear, who came up with 46.3%. In his second term, the so-called "Primary Election Law" was passed, which regulated the area code system in Kentucky. A Highway Department and a Department of Banking were also established. Women were given the right to vote, but only in the school sector. Compulsory schooling for all children was made mandatory by law. He also campaigned for the further expansion of the road and path network in Kentucky.

Old age and death

After the end of his second term, McCreary retired into private life. He worked again as a lawyer and died on October 8, 1918. James McCreary was married to Katherine Hughes. The couple had a son.

According to him, McCreary County named in Kentucky.

Web links

• James B. McCreary in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• James McCtreary in the National Governors Association (English)
• James B. McCreary in the database of Find a Grave (English)