James Michael Mead (December 27, 1885March 15, 1964) was an American politician from New York. A Democrat, among the offices in which he served was member of the Erie County Board of Supervisors from 1914 to 1915, New York State Assembly from 1915 to 1918, United States House of Representatives from 1919 to 1938, and the United States Senate from 1938 to 1947.

A native of Mount Morris, New York, Mead was raised in Buffalo, he rose through the Switchmen's Union's ranks to become president of the Buffalo local. From 1911 to 1914 he was employed as an officer with the United States Capitol Police.

Mead began a political career in 1914 with election to Erie County's Board of Supervisors. He subsequently served in the state Assembly from 1915 to 1918. In 1918 he won election to the U.S. House, where he served from 1919 to 1938. In 1938 he was elected to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Royal S. Copeland. He served in the Senate until 1947. In 1946, he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for governor of New York. He was then appointed to the Federal Trade Commission, on which he served from 1949 to 1955.

Early life

James M. Mead was born in Mount Morris, New York on December 27, 1885, a son of Thomas and Jane (Kelly) Mead. Mead moved to Buffalo with his family at the age of five. He was employed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad; his career included jobs as a water boy, lamp lighter, section hand, spike mauler, shop mechanic and switchman. He was subsequently employed as a switchman on the Erie Railroad, and was eventually elected president of the Switchmen's Union's Buffalo local. He also took courses at Canisius College and Catholic University. While working nights for the Capitol Police, Mead attended the Georgetown University Law Center during the day.

As a well-known semiprofessional football and baseball player in the Buffalo area, Mead developed a following that aided his entry into politics. Among his successes were laws to improve the conditions of women and children in factories and enhancements to the state's worker's compensation laws. He was reelected nine times, and served from 1919 to 1938.

Later career

Mead was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1942.

Legacy

In 1937, the Works Progress Administration built a Buffalo public library that was later named the James Mead Branch Library.

Buffalo-area mail carriers recognized Mead's accomplishments on behalf of postal workers by naming their union local in his honor. He was buried at Oakhill Cemetery in Clermont.

Family

In 1915, Mead married Alice M. Dillon (1885–1964). They were the parents of a son, James Michael Mead Jr. (1918–1997).

References

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