James Michael Mead | |
|---|---|
 Mead in 1937 | |
| United States Senator from New York | |
| In office December 3, 1938 – January 3, 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Royal S. Copeland |
| Succeeded by | Irving M. Ives |
| Chair of the Federal Trade Commission | |
| In office May 24, 1950 – March 31, 1953 | |
| Preceded by | Lowell Mason |
| Succeeded by | Edward F. Howrey |
| Member of the Federal Trade Commission | |
| In office November 15, 1949 – September 25, 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Garland S. Ferguson |
| Succeeded by | William C. Kern |
| Chairman of the United States House Committee on Post Office and Post Roads | |
| In office 1931–1938 | |
| Preceded by | Archie D. Sanders |
| Succeeded by | Milton A. Romjue |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 42nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1919 – December 2, 1938 | |
| Preceded by | William F. Waldow |
| Succeeded by | Pius Schwert |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the Erie County, 4th district | |
| In office January 1, 1915 – December 31, 1918 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick W. Quigley |
| Succeeded by | Andrew T. Beasley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 27, 1885 Mount Morris, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 15, 1964 (aged 78) Lakeland, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Alice M. Dillon
(m. 1915; died 1964) |
| Children | 1 |
James Michael Mead (December 27, 1885 – March 15, 1964) was an American politician from New York. A Democrat, among the offices in which he served was member of the Erie County Board of Supervisors (1914–1915), New York State Assembly (1915–1918), United States House of Representatives (1919–1938), and United States Senate (1938–1947).
A native of Mount Morris, New York, Mead was raised in Buffalo. He attended the public schools of Buffalo and began working for railroads at age 12. He rose through the Switchmen's Union's ranks to become president of the Buffalo local. From 1911 to 1914 he was employed as an officer with the United States Capitol Police. While working in Washington, Mead attended courses at the Georgetown University Law Center.
Mead began a political career in 1914 with election to Erie County's Board of Supervisors. He subsequently served in the state Assembly from 1915 to 1918. In 1918 he won election to the U.S. House, where he served from 1919 to 1938. In 1938 he was elected to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Royal S. Copeland. He served in the Senate until 1947. In 1946, he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for governor of New York. He was then appointed to the Federal Trade Commission, on which he served from 1949 to 1955.
In retirement, Mead was a resident of Florida. He died in Lakeland on March 15, 1964. Mead was buried at Oakhill Cemetery in Clermont, Florida.