William Franklin Draper (politician)

For persons of a similar name, see William Draper.

William Franklin Draper
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 11th district
In office March 4, 1893-March 3, 1897
Preceded by	Frederick S. Coolidge
Succeeded by	Charles F. Sprague
Personal details
Born	April 9, 1842 Lowell, Massachusetts
Died	January 28, 1910 (aged 67) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Hopedale Village Cemetery, Hopedale, Massachusetts
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Lydia Joy; Susan Preston m. May 22, 1890.
Awards	Brevet Colonel Brevet Brigadier General.
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	September 5, 1861-October 12, 1864
Rank	Private; (September 5, 1861); *Second Lieutenant (September 18, 1861); *Captain (August 12, 1862); *Lieutenant Colonel;
Unit	Company B, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. *Thirty-Sixth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Battles/wars	American Civil War *Siege of Vicksburg *Battle of the Wilderness *Siege of Petersburg *Second Battle of the Weldon Railroad

William Franklin Draper (April 9, 1842 – January 28, 1910) was an American businessman, industrialist, and soldier who served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.

Biography

Draper was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on April 9, 1842, and was a descendant of early Massachusetts settler James Draper. Draper attended public, private, and high schools, he studied mechanical engineering and cotton manufacturing.

William F. Draper at the end of the American Civil War.

During the American Civil War Draper enlisted as a private in the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on September 9, 1861 and was promoted through the ranks to lieutenant colonel. After his discharge Draper was awarded the brevet grades of colonel and brigadier general of Volunteers.

After the war he became a manufacturer of cotton machinery at Hopedale, Massachusetts, and patented many improvements and served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1876. He went on to serve as colonel on the staff of Governor John Davis Long from 1880 to 1883.

Equestrian statue of Draper erected in 1912 in Milford, Massachusetts.

Draper was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897). Draper served as chairman of the Committee on Patents (Fifty-fourth Congress), however he was not a candidate for renomination in 1896. He later served as president of the Draper Co. upon its incorporation in 1896. Later he was the Ambassador and Minister Plenipotentiary to Italy 1897–1899.

He died in Washington, D.C., on January 28, 1910, he was interred in Village Cemetery, Hopedale, Massachusetts.

See also

• List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
• Massachusetts in the American Civil War

External links

• Men of Mark in America Biography & Portrait
• William Franklin Draper at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• William Franklin Draper at Find a Grave

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Wayne MacVeagh	Ambassador and Minister Plenipotentiary to Italy 1897–1899	Succeeded by George von Lengerke Meyer
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Frederick S. Coolidge	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Massachusetts's 11th district March 4, 1893-March 3, 1897	Succeeded by Charles F. Sprague

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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