Courtenay Crocker
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Courtenay Crocker (February 4, 1881 – December 16, 1944) was an American attorney and politician.
Early life[edit]
Crocker was born on February 4, 1881, to George G. Crocker and Annie Bliss (Keep) Crocker. He graduated from Harvard College in 1901 and Harvard Law School in 1905.[1]
Political career[edit]
In 1908, Crocker was elected to the Boston Common Council. He was reelected in 1909.[2] From 1910 to 1914, Crocker was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He served as chairman of the House Ways and Means committee.[1] In 1917 he was appointed to the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission by Governor Samuel McCall.[3]
From 1910 to 1912, Crocker was the secretary of the Republican Club of Massachusetts. From 1914 to 1917 he served as the club's president. He later served as its vice president. He resigned from the club in 1920 due to the party's stance against the League of Nations. He supported Democrat Channing H. Cox in that year's gubernatorial election.[2] In 1924 Cox appointed Crocker to the Public Safety Committee.[4]
Advisor to foreign governments[edit]
From 1924 to 1926, Crocker was an advisor to the King of Siam. He advised Rama VII on foreign affairs in cooperation with foreign minister Prince Traidos Prabandh. Crocker succeeded Francis Bowes Sayre Sr. in this position.[5][6][7] Upon his return to Boston he served as president of the Japan Society of Boston. In 1929 he succeeded Cox as Honorary Consul of Japan in Boston.[8]
U.S. Senate campaign[edit]
In 1942, Crocker returned to the Republican Party and announced his candidacy for the United States Senate. Massachusetts Secretary of State Frederic W. Cook ruled that Crocker was ineligible to run in the Republican primary because he was not a registered Republican for at least 30 days before filing his nomination papers, however Suffolk Superior Court Judge John V. Spalding ordered Cook to place Crocker on the ballot.[9] Crocker lost the primary to the incumbent Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and supported the Democratic nominee, Joseph E. Casey in the general election.[10]
Death[edit]
Crocker died on December 16, 1944, at his home in Boston.[1][11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Courtenay Crocker: Noted Attorney, Civic Leader, Was 63". The Boston Daily Globe. December 17, 1944.
- ^ a b "Courtenay Crocker Comes out for Crocker". The Boston Daily Globe. October 28, 1920.
- ^ "Public Service Man Holds Job". The Boston Daily Globe. June 21, 1917.
- ^ "Cox Names Committee on Making Roads Safe". The Boston Daily Globe. April 16, 1924.
- ^ "Boston Man to Succeed Dr F. B. Sayre as Adviser of Siam". The Boston Daily Globe. June 26, 1924.
- ^ "To Advise King of Siam". The New York Times. June 26, 1924.
- ^ "Boston Man to be Adviser to King". The Boston Daily Globe. June 27, 1924.
- ^ "Courtenay Crocker is Honorary Consul of Japan". The Boston Daily Globe. December 22, 1929.
- ^ "Ely and Crocker File for Senate". The Boston Daily Globe. July 28, 1942.
- ^ Harris, John G. (October 25, 1942). "Courtenay Crocker Bolts Lodge, Will Support Casey for Senator". The Boston Daily Globe.
- ^ "Courtenay Crocker, Boston Lawyer, Dies". The New York Times. December 17, 1944.