David E. Finley

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David E. Finley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 5th district
In office March 4, 1899 – January 26, 1917
Preceded by	Thomas J. Strait
Succeeded by	Paul G. McCorkle
Member of the South Carolina Senate
In office 1892 – 1896
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
In office 1890 – 1891
Personal details
Born	(1861-02-28)February 28, 1861 Trenton, Arkansas
Died	January 26, 1917(1917-01-26) (aged 55) Charlotte, North Carolina
Resting place	York, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	South Carolina College
Occupation	lawyer

David E. Finley (February 28, 1861 – January 26, 1917) was a United States representative from South Carolina. He was born in Trenton, Arkansas. He attended the public schools of Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Ebenezer, South Carolina and was graduated from the law department of South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina) at Columbia, South Carolina, in 1885. He was admitted to the bar in 1886 and commenced practice in York, South Carolina.

Finley was member of the South Carolina House of Representatives 1890–1891. He also served in the South Carolina Senate 1892–1896. He served as a trustee of the University of South Carolina 1890–1896. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth and to the eight succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1899, until his death. Prior to dying, he had been reelected to the Sixty-fifth Congress. He died in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 26, 1917, and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, York, South Carolina.

Finley's son, David E. Finley, Jr., a prominent cultural leader in the United States in the 20th century, served as the first director of the National Gallery of Art and the founding chairman of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.