J. Mayhew Wainwright

Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright
United States Assistant Secretary of War
In office March 14, 1921 – March 4, 1923
Appointed by	Warren G. Harding
Preceded by	William Reid Williams
Succeeded by	Dwight Filley Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 25th district
In office March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1931
Preceded by	James W. Husted
Succeeded by	Charles D. Millard
Member of the New York Senate from the 24th district
In office January 1, 1909 – December 31, 1912
Preceded by	John C. R. Taylor
Succeeded by	John F. Healy
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Westchester County, 4th district
In office January 1, 1907 – December 31, 1908
Preceded by	new district
Succeeded by	George W. Mead
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Westchester County, 2nd district
In office January 1, 1902 – December 31, 1906
Preceded by	Alford W. Cooley
Succeeded by	Holland S. Duell
Personal details
Born	Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright December 10, 1864 Manhattan, New York City
Died	June 3, 1945 (aged 80) Rye, New York
Political party	Republican Party
Spouse(s)	Laura Wallace Buchanan
Parents	John Howard Wainwright Margaret Livingston Stuyvesant
Education	Columbia College Columbia Law School
Occupation	Attorney

Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright (December 10, 1864 – June 3, 1945) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was the United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1921 to 1923.^[1]

Life

He was born on December 10, 1864 in Manhattan, New York City to John Howard Wainwright and Margaret Livingston Stuyvesant.^[1]

Wainwright graduated from Columbia College; from Columbia School of Political Science in 1884, and from Columbia Law School in 1886. He was admitted to the bar the same year and practiced in New York City and in Westchester County. He served in the Twelfth Infantry of the New York National Guard (1889–1903), and in the Spanish–American War as captain of the Twelfth Regiment of New York Volunteers.^[1]

He married Laura Wallace Buchanan on November 23, 1892 in New York.^[1]

Wainwright was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906 (all five Westchester Co., 2nd D.), 1907 and 1908 (both Westchester Co., 4th D.).^[1]

He was a member of the New York State Senate (24th D.) from 1909 to 1912, sitting in the 132nd, 133rd, 134th and 135th New York State Legislatures.^[1]

He was appointed as a member of the first New York State Workmen's Compensation Commission in 1914 and served until 1915. He served as lieutenant colonel, inspector general's department, New York National Guard, on the Mexican border in 1916. During the First World War, Wainwright served as a lieutenant colonel in the Twenty-seventh Division from 1917 to 1919.^[1]

He was appointed by President Warren G. Harding to serve as Assistant Secretary of War from March 14, 1921, to March 4, 1923, when he resigned.^[1]

Wainwright was elected as a Republican to the 68th, 69th, 70th and 71st United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1923, to March 3, 1931. He resumed the practice of law and served as a member of the Westchester County Park Commission from 1930 to 1937.^[1]

He died on June 3, 1945, in Rye, New York.^[1] He was buried at the Greenwood Union Cemetery there.

Family

U.S. Army General Jonathan M. Wainwright was his cousin.^[1][2]

References

1. "J. M. Wainwright Dies In Rye At 80. Former Assistant Secretary of War, Ex-Representative, Was a Cousin of General Advocate of Preparedness Exponent of Dry Law Began Political Career in 1902. Served on Mexican Border". New York Times. June 4, 1945.
2. "Deaths: J. Mayhew Wainwright". The Living Church. Milwaukee, WI: Morehouse-Gorham Co.: p. 22. June 17, 1945.

Sources

• United States Congress. "J. Mayhew Wainwright (id: W000023)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• J. Mayhew Wainwright at Find a Grave