Born in Petersburg, Virginia, as one of the three surviving sons of Dr. Emmett Arrington Drewry (1838–1891) and his second wife, the former Altazera Laughton of Petersburg. His maternal grandfather was Patrick Henry Booth Sr. of Surry County, Virginia. His paternal grandfather, James Drewry (1808–1878) was a major landowner in Southampton County, Virginia, and the town of Drewryville, Virginia was named for the family. His father had enlisted in the 9th Virginia Infantry as a surgeon shortly after graduating from medical school, but mostly served at Poplar Lawn hospital in Petersburg, then was assigned to North Carolina late in the war. His cousin, Dr. William Francis Drewry (1860–1934) was active in Petersburg politics and became the city's mayor, and later Superintendent of the nearby Central State Hospital, whose budget the state senator helped supervise. During his son's youth, Dr. Emmett Drewry had helped to found the Medical Society of Virginia in Richmond, but mostly practiced in Southampton County.
Patrick Drewry attended several local public schools, including Petersburg High School, and McCabe's University School. He then pursued studies at Randolph-Macon College, in Ashland, Virginia, and graduated in 1896. He received an honorary LLD degree from his alma mater in 1946.[3] Following college, Drewry decided to study law at the University of Virginia Law School, and received a degree.
In 1906, Drewry married Mary Elizabeth Metcalf, a judge's daughter, in Palmyra, Missouri. They had three sons.[4]
Career
After being admitted to the bar in 1901, Drewry began legal practice in Petersburg. He was active in the Washington Street Methodist Church (and wrote a history of it), as well as the Sons of Confederate Veterans (became Commander of the A.P. Hill Camp, i.e. Petersburg chapter).[5] Drewry also was director of the Petersburg Savings and American Trust Co.[6]
A member of the Martin Organization, which evolved into the Byrd Organization, Drewry won his first election in 1911, to the Senate of Virginia, where he replaced Spanish–American War veteran Charles T. Lassiter (brother of Major General William Lassiter and the recently deceased Congressman Francis Rives Lassiter.[7] Drewry represented the city of Petersburg and neighboring Dinwiddie County, and won re-election, thus serving (part-time) from 1912 until 1920.[8] An advocate for medical and charitable causes, Drewry also sponsored the state's vital statistics bill.[9] Drewry was also a delegate to the Democratic State conventions in 1912, 1916, 1920, and 1924. In 1916, he served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention. A fiscal conservative, Drewry became chairman of the Economy and Efficiency Commission of Virginia in 1916–1918. He also accepted appointments as chairman of the State auditing committee (1916 to 1920), and as chairman of the State advisory board (1919).[10]
Drewry won election as a Democrat to the Sixty-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Walter A. Watson. He won reelection to the Sixty-seventh and thirteen succeeding Congresses. Thus Drewry served from April 27, 1920, until his death. He also served as member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1925 and several additional times, as ranking member of the House Naval Affairs Committee. Drewry was a member of the Democratic National Congressional Committee from 1923 to 1927, and chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1935.[11]
Death and legacy
Drewry died in Petersburg, Virginia on December 21, 1947. Unlike his father, who had been interred in the family graveyard in Drewryville, but like his brothers who practiced in Norfolk and Martinsville and were interred in those locations, Congressman Drewry was interred in Petersburg's historic Blandford Cemetery.
Elections
1920; Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed in a special election, and he won re-election with 92.6% of the vote in the general election, defeating Republican F.L. Mason
1922; Re-elected with 86.2% of the vote, defeating Republican Herbert Rogers and Independent W.H. Gill
1924; Re-elected unopposed
1926; Re-elected unopposed
1928; Re-elected unopposed
1930; Re-elected unopposed
1932; Re-elected as part of the Democratic ticket for Virginia's at-large congressional district; he won 8.2% in a 24-way race
1934; Re-elected with 94.4% of the vote, defeating Socialist Dan Killinger and Independent Mary F. Leslie
1936; Re-elected with 90.4% of the vote, defeating Republican John Martin and Socialist Killinger
1938; Re-elected unopposed
1940; Re-elected with 96.0% of the vote, defeating Socialist Cyrus Hotchkiss
1942; Re-elected unopposed
1944; Re-elected unopposed
1946; Re-elected with 87.1% of the vote, defeating Republican Andrew S. Condrey
Patrick H. Drewry at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007
August 21, 2023
patrick, drewry, this, article, uses, bare, urls, which, uninformative, vulnerable, link, please, consider, converting, them, full, citations, ensure, article, remains, verifiable, maintains, consistent, citation, style, several, templates, tools, available, a. This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation September 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Patrick Henry Drewry May 24 1875 December 21 1947 was a Virginia lawyer and Democratic politician who served in the United States House of Representatives and state senate 1 2 Patrick H DrewryMember of the U S House of Representatives from Virginia s 4th districtIn office April 27 1920 December 21 1947At large March 4 1933 January 3 1935Preceded byWalter A WatsonSucceeded byWatkins M AbbittMember of the Virginia Senate from the 29th districtIn office January 10 1912 April 27 1920Preceded byCharles T LassiterSucceeded byMorton G GoodePersonal detailsBornPatrick Henry Drewry 1875 05 24 May 24 1875Petersburg Virginia U S DiedDecember 21 1947 1947 12 21 aged 72 Petersburg Virginia U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseMary E Metcalf m 1906 Alma materRandolph Macon CollegeUniversity of Virginia Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Political career 4 Death and legacy 5 Elections 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life and education EditBorn in Petersburg Virginia as one of the three surviving sons of Dr Emmett Arrington Drewry 1838 1891 and his second wife the former Altazera Laughton of Petersburg His maternal grandfather was Patrick Henry Booth Sr of Surry County Virginia His paternal grandfather James Drewry 1808 1878 was a major landowner in Southampton County Virginia and the town of Drewryville Virginia was named for the family His father had enlisted in the 9th Virginia Infantry as a surgeon shortly after graduating from medical school but mostly served at Poplar Lawn hospital in Petersburg then was assigned to North Carolina late in the war His cousin Dr William Francis Drewry 1860 1934 was active in Petersburg politics and became the city s mayor and later Superintendent of the nearby Central State Hospital whose budget the state senator helped supervise During his son s youth Dr Emmett Drewry had helped to found the Medical Society of Virginia in Richmond but mostly practiced in Southampton County Patrick Drewry attended several local public schools including Petersburg High School and McCabe s University School He then pursued studies at Randolph Macon College in Ashland Virginia and graduated in 1896 He received an honorary LLD degree from his alma mater in 1946 3 Following college Drewry decided to study law at the University of Virginia Law School and received a degree In 1906 Drewry married Mary Elizabeth Metcalf a judge s daughter in Palmyra Missouri They had three sons 4 Career EditAfter being admitted to the bar in 1901 Drewry began legal practice in Petersburg He was active in the Washington Street Methodist Church and wrote a history of it as well as the Sons of Confederate Veterans became Commander of the A P Hill Camp i e Petersburg chapter 5 Drewry also was director of the Petersburg Savings and American Trust Co 6 Drewry as a state senator during the 1912 Virginia General AssemblyPolitical career EditA member of the Martin Organization which evolved into the Byrd Organization Drewry won his first election in 1911 to the Senate of Virginia where he replaced Spanish American War veteran Charles T Lassiter brother of Major General William Lassiter and the recently deceased Congressman Francis Rives Lassiter 7 Drewry represented the city of Petersburg and neighboring Dinwiddie County and won re election thus serving part time from 1912 until 1920 8 An advocate for medical and charitable causes Drewry also sponsored the state s vital statistics bill 9 Drewry was also a delegate to the Democratic State conventions in 1912 1916 1920 and 1924 In 1916 he served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention A fiscal conservative Drewry became chairman of the Economy and Efficiency Commission of Virginia in 1916 1918 He also accepted appointments as chairman of the State auditing committee 1916 to 1920 and as chairman of the State advisory board 1919 10 Drewry won election as a Democrat to the Sixty sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Walter A Watson He won reelection to the Sixty seventh and thirteen succeeding Congresses Thus Drewry served from April 27 1920 until his death He also served as member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1925 and several additional times as ranking member of the House Naval Affairs Committee Drewry was a member of the Democratic National Congressional Committee from 1923 to 1927 and chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1935 11 Death and legacy EditDrewry died in Petersburg Virginia on December 21 1947 Unlike his father who had been interred in the family graveyard in Drewryville but like his brothers who practiced in Norfolk and Martinsville and were interred in those locations Congressman Drewry was interred in Petersburg s historic Blandford Cemetery Elections Edit1920 Elected to the U S House of Representatives unopposed in a special election and he won re election with 92 6 of the vote in the general election defeating Republican F L Mason 1922 Re elected with 86 2 of the vote defeating Republican Herbert Rogers and Independent W H Gill 1924 Re elected unopposed 1926 Re elected unopposed 1928 Re elected unopposed 1930 Re elected unopposed 1932 Re elected as part of the Democratic ticket for Virginia s at large congressional district he won 8 2 in a 24 way race 1934 Re elected with 94 4 of the vote defeating Socialist Dan Killinger and Independent Mary F Leslie 1936 Re elected with 90 4 of the vote defeating Republican John Martin and Socialist Killinger 1938 Re elected unopposed 1940 Re elected with 96 0 of the vote defeating Socialist Cyrus Hotchkiss 1942 Re elected unopposed 1944 Re elected unopposed 1946 Re elected with 87 1 of the vote defeating Republican Andrew S CondreySee also EditList of United States Congress members who died in office 1900 49 References Edit Swem Earl G 1918 Register of the General Assembly of Virginia 1776 1918 Richmond Virginia State Library Retrieved January 27 2016 Dodson E Griffith 1939 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia 1919 1939 Register Richmond Virginia State Library Retrieved January 27 2016 http www anniebees com Drewry Drewrys 20In 20Government htm http www anniebees com Drewry Drewrys 20In 20Government htm James G Scott and Edward A Wyatt IV Petersburg s Story Petersburg 1960 pp 303 336 37 Cong bio Scott and Wyatt p 325 Cynthia Miller Leonard Virginia General Assembly 1619 1978 Virginia State Library 1978 pp 603 607 611 616 620 http www anniebees com Drewry Drewrys 20In 20Government htm Congressional bio http www anniebees com Drewry Drewrys 20In 20Government htmExternal links Edit Patrick H Drewry Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Patrick H Drewry at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project 1776 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Patrick H Drewry amp oldid 1129104145, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
