William M. Calder

William Musgrave Calder I
United States Senator from New York
In office March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1923
Preceded by	James A. O'Gorman
Succeeded by	Royal S. Copeland
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 6th district
In office March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1915
Preceded by	Robert Baker
Succeeded by	Frederick W. Rowe
Personal details
Born	March 3, 1869 Brooklyn, New York
Died	March 3, 1945 (aged 76) Brooklyn, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Catherine E. Harloe
Children	Elsie Calder Lee William Musgrave Calder II
Parents	Alexander G. Calder
Relatives	William Musgrave Calder III, grandson

William Musgrave Calder I (March 3, 1869 – March 3, 1945) was an American politician from New York.^[1]

Biography

He was born in Brooklyn on March 3, 1869 to Susan (Ryan) Calder and Alexander G. Calder, a carpenter and building contractor.^[2] He trained as a carpenter, attended night classes at Cooper Union, and went into business as a building contractor.

In 1893 he married Catherine E. Harloe. His children were Elsie Calder who married to Rear Admiral Robert C. Lee; and William M. Calder II.

He served as the Borough of Brooklyn Building Commissioner from 1902 to 1903. He represented New York as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives from 1905 until 1915. In 1914, he lost the Republican primary for U.S. Senator to James Wolcott Wadsworth, Jr. In 1916, he won the Republican primary, defeating Robert Bacon, and was elected to the United States Senate over Democratic National Committee chairman William F. McCombs in the general election. He served one term, from 1917 to 1923. In 1922, he was defeated for re-election by Democrat Royal S. Copeland. After leaving Congress he continued to be active in the building trade and financial institutions.

He died on March 3, 1945, which was his 76th birthday.^[1]

Legacy

His papers are held in a number of archives including: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; the New York Historical Society; and Yale University. His grandson William Musgrave Calder III is a professor of Classics at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He authored many books.

References

1. "W. M. Calder Dies. U.S. Ex-Senator, 76. Leader in Republican Politics Served in 1917-1923. Was Representative 10 Years. Erected More Than 3,500 Homes. Host to Sunday School Union 22 Years". New York Times. March 4, 1945. Retrieved 2010-11-17. Former United States Senator William M. Calder died yesterday afternoon on his seventy-sixth birthday at his home, 551 First Street, Brooklyn, after an illness of two years.
2. "A. G. Calder Is Dead. Farther of the Former Senator Was 85 and a Retired Builder". New York Times. March 6, 1927. Retrieved 2010-11-17. Alexander G. Calder, father of former United States Senator William M. Calder, died last night at his home at 420 Eighth Street, Brooklyn. Former Senator Calder, his son, and several friends were at the house at the time. Mr. Calder was 85 years old.

External links

• Media related to William M. Calder at Wikimedia Commons

• United States Congress. "William M. Calder (id: C000025)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.