Felix Hebert | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hebert in 1930 | |
| Senate Minority Whip | |
| In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | |
| Leader | Charles L. McNary |
| Preceded by | Morris Sheppard |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth S. Wherry (1944) |
| United States Senator fromRhode Island | |
| In office March 4, 1929 – January 3, 1935 | |
| Preceded by | Peter G. Gerry |
| Succeeded by | Peter G. Gerry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1874-12-11)December 11, 1874 St-Hyacinthe, Canada |
| Died | December 14, 1969(1969-12-14) (aged 95) Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Virginia Provost |
Felix Hebert (December 11, 1874 – December 14, 1969) was aUnited States senator from Rhode Island. Born nearSt-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, he came to the United States when his parents, Edouard and Catherine (née Vandale) Hebert, returned in 1880 and resumed their residence in the town ofCoventry, Rhode Island. He was the first person ofFrench-Canadian ancestry to serve in the United States Senate.[1]
Born inSt. Guillaume, Quebec, where his parents were visiting to tend to his father Edouard's health, the family returned to Coventry, where Hebert was educated in public schools.[2] He then attendedLa Salle Academy in Providence, from which he graduated in 1893.[2] He was employed as a railroad freight billing clerk from 1893 to 1896 and as a private secretary to Gen.Charles R. Brayton from 1896 to 1898. He received an appointment as clerk in the office ofTreasurer Walter A. Read, where he worked for one year. He was deputyinsurance commissioner of Rhode Island from 1898 to 1906, studied law, was admitted to thebar in 1907 and commenced practice inProvidence.[2][1]
He was justice of thedistrict court of the fourth judicial district of Rhode Island from 1908 to 1928, trustee of theNathanael Greene Homestead Association of Rhode Island from 1924 to 1934, and a member and secretary of theProvidence County Courthouse Commission from 1925 to 1934.
Hebert was elected as aRepublican to theU.S. Senate, unseating DemocratPeter G. Gerry by a 51% to 49% margin. He served from March 4, 1929, to January 3, 1935; he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1934, losing a rematch to Gerry, who won 57% of the vote.[1] In 1931, he travelled to Europe to examine European unemployment compensation systems, returning to the U.S. to advise PresidentHerbert Hoover against federal unemployment compensation.[1] While in the Senate, he was Republican whip from 1933 to 1935, and chairman of the Committee on Patents (Seventy-second Congress). He resumed the practice of law, was a member of theRepublican National Committee from 1944 to 1952, and was advisory counsel to the Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies. He was considered an "international authority on insurance law".[1] He died inWarwick in 1969; interment was in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Warwick.
Hebert had thirteen siblings including Rev. Mathias A. Hebert, who on December 16, 1922, was appointed by Bishop William A. Hickey as the second pastor of St. Cecilia Parish ofPawtucket, Rhode Island. Hebert was a Roman Catholic and was a member of the parish of St. Jean Baptiste, Arctic Centre, of which his father was one of the founders. He was a member of various societies and clubs, including the Catholic Club, and the Turk's Head Club of Providence.[2]
On September 18, 1900, inWare, Massachusetts, Hebert married Virginia M. Provost (1875 – 1958), a daughter of Jean Octave Provost (1852 – 1929) and Virginie (née Deslauriers) Provost (d. 1878). Felix and Virginia Hebert had four children: Catherine Virginia, Adrien Warner, Marguerite Rosalie, and Edouard Felix.[2]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromRhode Island (Class 1) 1928,1934 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Senate Republican Whip 1933–1935 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Rhode Island 1929–1935 Served alongside:Jesse H. Metcalf | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theSenate Patents Committee 1932–1933 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Senate Minority Whip 1933–1935 | Vacant Title next held by Kenneth S. Wherry |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
 | ||
| ||
