Katharine Byron
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2023) |
Katharine Edgar Byron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's 6th district | |
| In office May 27, 1941 – January 3, 1943 | |
| Preceded by | William D. Byron |
| Succeeded by | James Glenn Beall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Katharine Edgar October 25, 1903 Detroit,Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 28, 1976(aged 73) Washington, D.C.,U.S. |
| Resting place | Riverview Cemetery Williamsport, Maryland,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 5, includingGoodloe Byron |
| Relatives | Louis E. McComas(grandfather) |
Katharine Byron(néeEdgar;October 25, 1903 – December 28, 1976), aDemocrat,was aU.S. Congresswomanwho represented the6th congressional districtofMarylandfrom May 27, 1941, to January 3, 1943.[1]She was the first woman elected to Congress from Maryland.[1]
Early life
[edit]Katharine Edgar was born inDetroit,Michiganon October 25, 1902, to Mary (née McComas) and Brigadier General Clinton Goodloe Edgar.[1]She attendedindependent schoolsduring her youth, such as theLiggett Schoolin Detroit, theWestover SchoolofMiddlebury, Connecticut,and theHolton-Arms SchoolofBethesda,Maryland.[1]She later moved toWilliamsport, Maryland,in 1922.[1]The Byrons were communicants ofSaint John's Church.[citation needed]
She was a granddaughter ofU.S. SenatorLouis E. McComas,who represented the6th congressional districtof Maryland.[1]
Personal life
[edit]She marriedWilliam D. Byronin 1922.[1]Together, they had five sons:[1]
- William Devereux Byron III[1](1925–1990)[2]
- James “Jamie” Edgar Byron[1](1927-2011)[2]
- Goodloe Edgar Byron(1929–1978) – a representative from the 6th district.[1][2]
- David Wilson Byron (1932–1964)[1][2]
- Louis McComas Byron (1938–2011)[1][2]
She married Samuel Bynum Riddick in 1947.[2]
Career
[edit]She was elected to Congress in a special election held May 27, 1941 to replace her husband, RepresentativeWilliam D. Byron,after his death inan airplane crashnearAtlanta, Georgiaon February 27, 1941.[1]
She advocated amending theNeutrality ActduringWorld War IIand gave one of five speeches on December 8, 1941, in favor of PresidentFranklin Roosevelt'sdeclaration of war on Japan.[1]
She did not seek re-election in 1942 and retired inWashington, D.C.[1]
Death
[edit]Byron died atGeorgetown University Hospitalon December 28, 1976.[1]She is interred inRiverview CemeteryinWilliamsport, Maryland.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdefghijklmnopq"Mrs. Byron, was state's first woman in Congress".The Baltimore Sun.December 29, 1976. p. A8.RetrievedMay 9,2021– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^abcdef"Collection: Byron Family papers | Archival Collections".archives.lib.umd.edu.RetrievedSeptember 17,2022.
- ^"Mrs. Byron".The News.Frederick, Maryland.December 29, 1976. p. 5.RetrievedSeptember 18,2022– viaNewspapers.com.
- United States Congress."Katharine Byron (id: B001222)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
 | This article about a Maryland politician is astub.You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
- 1903 births
- 1976 deaths
- Politicians from Detroit
- Politicians from Washington, D.C.
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Women in Maryland politics
- Byron family of Maryland
- People from Williamsport, Maryland
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland
- 20th-century American legislators
- 20th-century American women politicians
- Episcopalians from Maryland
- Maryland politician stubs