William S McNary

Early years

McNary was born in Abington, Massachusetts, McNary attended the public schools of Abington and graduated from the Boston English High School. He engaged in newspaper work.

Journalism career

McNary was a reporter and managing editor of The Boston Commercial Bulletin from 1880 to 1892.

Business career

McNary engaged in the insurance business and a dealt in real estate.

Boston Common Council

McNary served as member of the City of Boston Common Council in 1887 and 1888.

Massachusetts Legislature

McNary served in the Massachusetts Legislature as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1889 to 1890 and from 1900 to 1902 and as a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 1891 to 1892.

Boston Water Board

In 1893 Judge Robert Grant resigned his position on the Boston Water Board, in July 1893 McNary was appointed by Mayor Matthews to fill the vacancy. McNary's appointment was confirmed by the Board of Aldermen and he served as a member of the Water Board from 1893 to 1894.

Democratic State Committee

McNary was secretary of the Democratic State committee from 1898 to 1900, and served as the chairman of the committee from 1900 to 1904.

Democratic National Conventions

McNary was an alternate delegate at large to the Democratic National Convention in 1892. and as an at large delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1900 and was also a delegate in 1904.

1892 and 1894

In 1892 and 1894 McNary was the Democratic Nominee for Congress in Massachusetts 10th Congressional District. He was unsuccessful in both of these elections. At the time the Massachusetts 10th Congressional District consisted of South Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, the City of Quincy and the Town of Milton.

1892

Although he was the official nominee of the Democratic party, McNary lost the 1892 election to independent Democratic candidate Michael J. McEttrick. That contest was a four way race between McNary, McEttrick, Harrison Atwood the Republican nominee and independent Republican candidate Richard C. Humphreys. McNary came in third behind Atwood and the winner McEttrick.

1894

McNary again was the official nominee of the Democratic Party in the 1894 general election. McNary ran against incumbent Congressman independent Democratic candidate Michael J. McEttrick, Republican nominee Harrison H. Atwood, independent Republican candidate Frederick W. Peobody and Socialist candidate Michael D. Fitzgerald of Lynn. In this five way race McNary lost the 1894 election to Atwood.

1902 and 1904

McNary was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Congresses (March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1907). McNary was not a candidate for renomination in 1906.

1902 Election

In 1902 the incumbent congressman Henry F. Naphen wanted to run again, however McNary who was chairman of the Democratic State committee wanted the nomination and McNary forced Naphen to retire from the race. As McNary controlled the apparatus of the districts Democratic party Naphen decided to quietly drop out of the race rather than after a fight.

In the 1902 general election, McNary as the nominee of the Democratic party faced Republican nominee William W. Towle and Socialist candidate John Weaver Sherman. McNary won the election with a 6,195 vote plurality over the second place candidate William W. Towle.

1904 Election

In the 1904 election McNary was again the nominee of the Democratic party, in the general election he faced Republican nominee J. B. Crawford and Socialist candidate W. T. Richards. McNary won the election receiving 19,211 votes to 12,740 votes for Crawford and 1,572 votes for Richards.

1910

In 1910 McNary ran as a candidate for the Sixty second Congress, he sought the Democrat nomination for the Massachusetts Tenth Congressional district, against Boston City Councilor James Michael Curley and incumbent Congressman Joseph F. O'Connell, in the primary election McNary came in third behind Curley and O'Connell.

Business career

McNary continued his business pursuits in Boston, Massachusetts.

McNary retired from Congress in 1907 to form The Drake and Hershey Company, a company that dealt in furniture.

In 1915 McNary was one of the founders of the Hanover Trust and was also one of its directors.

Massachusetts Harbor and Land Commission

In 1912 Massachusetts Governor Foss appointed McNary a Commissioner of the Massachusetts Harbor and Land Commission, he served as its chairman for four years.

Boston Port Directors

McNary was an associate member of the Boston Port Directors for two years.

Waterways and Public Lands Commission

In 1916 Governor McCall appointed McNary as a member of the Waterways and Public Lands Commission.

Death and Burial

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