George Holden Tinkham | |
|---|---|
 Tinkham circa 1918 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts | |
| In office March 4, 1915 – January 3, 1943 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew James Peters |
| Succeeded by | Christian Herter |
| Constituency | 11th district (1915–1933) 10th district (1933–1943) |
| Member of theMassachusetts State Senate | |
| In office 1910–1912 | |
| Boston Alderman | |
| In office 1900–1902 | |
| Member of theBoston Common Council | |
| In office 1897–1898 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 29, 1870 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | August 28, 1956 (aged 85) |
| Resting place | Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
George Holden Tinkham (October 29, 1870 – August 28, 1956) was a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from the state ofMassachusetts.
Tinkham was born October 29, 1870, inBoston,Massachusetts,[1] to Frances Ann Holden and George Henry Tinkham, a produce dealer.[citation needed] He graduated fromHarvard College in 1894.[1]
Tinkham served as a member of theBoston Common Council in 1897 and 1898.[1] After this first venture into politics he resumed his education atHarvard Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1899 and commenced practice in Boston.[1] Tinkham returned to public office, serving as a member of the Boston Board of Aldermen from 1900 to 1902.[1][2][note 1]
Tinkham spent the next several years working as a lawyer. In 1910 he returned to public service, being elected as a member of theMassachusetts State Senate, where he served from 1910 to 1912.[1][2]
DuringWorld War I, he served in the military;[1] Tinkham would later tellLife magazine that while touring the front as a Congressman he fired the first American shot against theAustrians.[3]
Tinkham was elected as a Republican to theSixty-fourth Congress and to the thirteen succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1915 – January 3, 1943).[1] During that time Tinkham was nicknamed "the conscience of the House" for his efforts toprotect voting rights for African Americans,[2] in part by highlighting of the South's disproportionate representation in the House related to that region's voting population.[4] In 1937, a California newspaper reported "Representative Tinkham of Massachusetts, on the other hand, is emphatic in the view that we are heading for an alliance with England, France and Russia against Germany, Italy and Japan and he favors playing a lone hand and attending strictly to our own business".[5]
Tinkham did not stand for renomination in 1942. He continued to practice law in Boston until his retirement; died in Cramerton, North Carolina, on August 28, 1956; interment inForest Hills Cemetery in Boston.[1]
In his spare time, he went on safaris inKenya.[3]
He notes that he fired the first American shot against the Austrians in the World War. The Italians were conducting the visiting Congressman along the Austrian front in 1917 and allowed him to pull the lanyard of a field piece. (p. 71)
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's 11th congressional district March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1933 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's 10th congressional district March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the Boston, Massachusetts Common Council 1897–1898 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the Boston, Massachusetts Board of Aldermen 1900 – 1902 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the Massachusetts State Senate 1910 – 1912 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
