William S. McNary
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's10th district
In office March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1907
Preceded by	Henry F. Naphen
Succeeded by	Joseph F. O'Connell
Member of the Massachusetts State Senate
In office 1891–1892
In office 1889–1890
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 15th Suffolk district[1]
In office 1900–1902
Member of the Boston Common Council from Ward 15[2]
In office 1886[2]–1887[2]
Chairperson of theMassachusetts Democratic Party
In office 1901–1904
Preceded by	Christopher T. Callahan
Succeeded by	John J. Flaherty
Personal details
Born	(1863-03-29)March 29, 1863 Abington, Massachusetts
Died	June 26, 1930(1930-06-26) (aged 67) Boston, Massachusetts
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Albertine A. Martin[3]
Children	Helen McNary, William S. McNary, Jr.[3]
Alma mater	Boston English High School
Profession	Journalist, Furniture Dealer

William Sarsfield McNary (March 29, 1863 – June 26, 1930) was an AmericanDemocratic politician who served two terms as aU.S. Representative fromBoston,Massachusetts, and exercised tremendous influence over the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

McNary was born inAbington, Massachusetts, McNary attended the public schools of Abington and graduated from the Boston English High School.

After graduation, McNary was a reporter and managing editor ofThe Boston Commercial Bulletin from 1880 to 1892.^{[citation needed]}

McNary engaged in the insurance business and a dealt in real estate.^{[citation needed]}

McNary served as member of the City of Boston Common Council in 1887 and 1888.^{[citation needed]}

McNary served in theMassachusetts House of Representatives from 1889 to 1890 and theMassachusetts Senate from 1891 to 1892. As State Senator, McNary served as an alternative delegate to the1892 Democratic National Convention.^[4][5][6]

In 1893,Robert Grant resigned his position on the Boston Water Board and McNary was appointed to fill the vacancy in July. He served until 1894.^[7]

In 1892, McNary secured the Democratic nomination forMassachusetts's 10th congressional district, centered on the heavily Irish Catholic industrial neighborhoods of South Boston, Roxbury, and Dorchester.^[8]

The district was one of the most Democratic in the overwhelmingly Republican state. However, State SenatorMichael McEttrick, running as an independent Democrat, won the race in a three-way contest against McNary and RepublicanHarrison Atwood.^[8]

In 1894, McNary again was secured the Democratic Party nomination to challenge McEttrick, but Atwood was the victor in another three-way contest.^[8][9]

In 1898, McNary was elected secretary of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee.^[4]

In 1900, McNary returned to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and was elected Chairman of theMassachusetts Democratic Party.^[4] McNary was elected a delegate to the1900 and1904 Conventions.^[4][5]

In 1902, incumbent Irish-born RepresentativeHenry F. Naphen hoped to run again, but McNary used his position as party chair to force Naphen into retirement. With McNary in control of the party apparatus, Naphen decided to quietly drop out of the race rather than after a fight.^[10] With the nomination secure, McNary won an easy victory over Republican William W. Towle by a plurality of 6,195 votes.^[5][11]

In 1904, McNary defeated Republican nominee J. B. Crawford by 6,471 votes.^[4] He retired in 1906.

In 1910, McNary challenged incumbent Democratic CongressmanJoseph F. O'Connell for his old seat in Congress. However, McNary finished third in the primary, which was won by Boston City CouncilorJames Michael Curley.^[12]

After retiring from Congress, McNary continued his business pursuits inBoston, Massachusetts. He formed The Drake and Hershey Company, a company that dealt in furniture.^[3] In 1915, McNary was one of the founders of theHanover Trust and served as one of its directors.^[3]

In 1912, GovernorEugene Foss appointed McNary to the Massachusetts Harbor and Land Commission. McNary served as its chairman for four years.^[3] McNary was also an associate member of the Boston Port Directors for two years.^[3]

In 1916, GovernorSamuel McCall appointed McNary as a member of the Waterways and Public Lands Commission.^[3]

McNary died in Boston on June 26, 1930, and was interred in St. Joseph's Cemetery,West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

• A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822–1908, Roxbury, 1846–1867, Charlestown 1847-1873 and of The Selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822 also of Various Other Town and Municipal officers, Boston, MA: City of Boston Printing Department, (1909) pp. 276–277.
• Bacon, Edwin M. (1916),The Book of Boston: Fifty Years' Recollections of the New England Metropolis, Boston, MA: Book of Boston Co., p. 193
• Bridgman, Arthur Milnor.:A Souvenir of Massachusetts Legislators (1901) pp. 180–181.
• Official Congressional Directory of William S. McNary from 1904
• Official Congressional Directory of William S. McNary from 1906

• United States Congress."William S. McNary (id: M000584)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.

• 1863 births
• 1930 deaths
• Democratic Party Massachusetts state senators
• Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts
• Burials at St. Joseph Cemetery (West Roxbury, Massachusetts)
• 19th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court
• 20th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court
• 20th-century United States representatives

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