William E. Chandler

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William Eaton Chandler

30th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office April 16, 1882 – March 4, 1885
Preceded by	William H. Hunt
Succeeded by	William C. Whitney

Born	December 28, 1835 Concord, New Hampshire, USA
Died	November 30, 1917 Concord, New Hampshire, USA
Political party	Republican
Profession	Lawyer, Politician, Publisher, Editor

William Eaton Chandler (December 28, 1835–November 30, 1917) was a lawyer who served as United States Secretary of the Navy and as a Senator from New Hampshire.

Born in Concord, New Hampshire, Chandler attended the common schools and the academies in Thetford, Vermont, and Pembroke, New Hampshire before attending Harvard Law School where he graduated in 1854. He was admitted to the bar in 1855 and commenced practice in Concord.

In 1859, he was appointed reporter of the decisions of the supreme court of New Hampshire. He then served in the State house of representatives from 1862-1864 and was the speaker during the last two years.

In 1865, Chandler was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln solicitor and judge advocate general of the Navy Department. Subsequently, he was appointed First Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, until he resigned in 1867.

Chandler returned to New Hampshire and became a newspaper publisher and editor during the 1870s and 1880s. Continuing in politics, he was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1876 and a member of the State house of representatives in 1881.

William E. Chandler

Chandler was appointed by President Chester A. Arthur as Secretary of the Navy in 1882 and served until 1885.

As a Republican, he was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Austin F. Pike and served from June 14, 1887, to March 3, 1889. Subsequently elected for the term beginning March 4, 1889, he was reelected in 1895 and served from June 18, 1889, to March 3, 1901. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination. He served as chairman, Committee on Immigration (Fifty-first and Fifty-second Congresses), Committee on Census (Fifty-fourth Congress), Committee on Privileges and Elections (Fifty-fifth and Fifty-sixth Congresses).

Chandler was appointed by President William McKinley as president of the Spanish Claims Treaty Commission 1901-1908.

Leaving public office, Chandler resumed the practice of law in Concord and Washington, D.C..

He died at Concord in 1917.

USS Chandler (DD-206) was named for him.

[edit] Sources

This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Preceded by William H. Hunt	United States Secretary of the Navy 1882–1885	Succeeded by William C. Whitney
Preceded by Person C. Cheney	United States Senator (Class 2) from New Hampshire 1887–1889 Served alongside: Henry W. Blair	Succeeded by Gilman Marston
Preceded by Gilman Marston	United States Senator (Class 2) from New Hampshire 1889–1901 Served alongside: Henry W. Blair, Jacob H. Gallinger	Succeeded by Henry E. Burnham