James M. Beck

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James Montgomery Beck (July 9, 1861 – April 12, 1936), was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Republican Party, who served as U.S. Solicitor General and U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.

[edit] Early life and family

Beck was born July 9, 1861 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1880. He was employed as clerk for a railway company in 1880 and studied law at night, was admitted to the bar in 1884 and commenced practice in Philadelphia. He was admitted to the bar of New York City in 1903, and to the bar of England in 1922.

[edit] Professional career

Beck served as assistant United States attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania 1888-1892 and as United States attorney 1896-1900. In 1898, he ran for District Attorney of Philadelphia, but lost to P. Frederick Rothermel. He was appointed by President William McKinley as assistant to the Attorney General of the United States in 1900 and served until his resignation in 1903. He returned to the full-time practice of law in Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. from 1903 to 1921 and was elected a bencher of Gray’s Inn in 1914, being the first foreigner in 600 years to receive that distinction. He also received decorations from France and Belgium and authored several books and articles on the First World War and on the Constitution of the United States. He was appointed by President Warren G. Harding as Solicitor General of the United States in 1921 and served until his resignation in 1925, when he again resumed the practice of law.

[edit] U.S. Representative

Beck was elected as a Republican to the Seventieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James M. Hazlett was reelected to the Seventy-first, Seventy-second, and Seventy-third Congresses and served from November 8, 1927 until his resignation on September 30, 1934.

[edit] Death and legacy

Beck died April 12, 1936 in Washington, D.C., and is buried at Rock Creek Cemetery.

[edit] References

• James M. Beck at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

[edit] External links

• Works by James M. Beck at Project Gutenberg

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