Sinclair Weeks

Sinclair Weeks
13th United States Secretary of Commerce
In office January 21, 1953 – November 10, 1958
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Charles W. Sawyer
Succeeded by	Lewis L. Strauss
United States Senator from Massachusetts
In office February 8, 1944 – December 19, 1944
Appointed by	Leverett Saltonstall
Preceded by	Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.
Succeeded by	Leverett Saltonstall
Chairperson of the Massachusetts Republican Party
In office 1936–1938
Preceded by	Vernon W. Marr
Succeeded by	Carroll Meins
Mayor of Newton
In office 1930–1935
Preceded by	Edwin O. Childs
Succeeded by	Edwin O. Childs
Personal details
Born	June 15, 1893 Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	February 7, 1972 (aged 78) Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting place	Summer Street Cemetery in Lancaster, New Hampshire, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Beatrice Dowse Weeks Jane Tompkins Rankin
Children	Frances Lee Weeks Lawrence John Wingate Weeks, II Martha Sinclair Weeks Sherrill Sinclair Weeks, Jr. Beatrice Dowse Weeks Bast William Dowse Weeks
Parents	John Wingate Weeks Martha Aroline Sinclair Weeks
Alma mater	Harvard University
Occupation	Banker
Profession	Government
Military service
Service/branch	United States National Guard United States Army
Battles/wars	World War I

Charles Sinclair Weeks (June 15, 1893 – February 7, 1972), better known as Sinclair Weeks, served as United States Secretary of Commerce from 1953 until 1958, during President Eisenhower's administration.

Biography

Weeks was born in West Newton, Massachusetts, to John Wingate Weeks, who was a United States congressman, and Martha Aroline (née Sinclair). Weeks graduated from Harvard University, served on the U.S.-Mexico border with the U.S. National Guard in 1916, and served in the World War I. He was a businessman in various industries for much of his adult life.

He was also the mayor of Newton, Massachusetts from 1930 to 1935. He was a United States Senator from Massachusetts from February 8, 1944, when he was appointed by Governor Leverett Saltonstall following the resignation of Henry C. Lodge, Jr., who went to serve in World War II, until December 19, 1944, when a new senator was elected. Weeks did not run in that election. Weeks was a member of the United States Republican Party and served as the member of a Republican National Committee from 1941 to 1953. He was the treasurer of the party from 1940 to 1944. Weeks was the president of the American Enterprise Association from 1946 to 1950.

President Dwight Eisenhower appointed him the United States Secretary of Commerce from January 21, 1953 until November 10, 1958.

Weeks married the former Beatrice Dowse on December 4, 1915. They had three sons and three daughters, Frances W.H. Lawrence, John W. Weeks II, Martha Sinclair Weeks Sherrill, Sinclair Weeks II, Beatrice Weeks Bast, and William D. Weeks. Weeks married Jane Tompkins Rankin on January 3, 1948. Sinclair and Jane Weeks had no children.

He died on February 7, 1972, at age 78, in Concord, Massachusetts. He is buried in Summer Street Cemetery in Lancaster, New Hampshire.

External links

• United States Congress. "Sinclair Weeks (id: W000248)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Sinclair Weeks at Find a Grave
• Finding aid for the Sinclair Weeks Oral History, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library