Frederick W. Mulkey
Encyclopedia
Frederick William Mulkey (January 6, 1874 May 5, 1924) was an American attorney and politician from the state of Oregon
. A native of Portland
, he began his political career on the Portland City Council, serving one year as its president. A Republican
, he twice served as a United States Senator from Oregon, filling terms vacated by the deaths of the sitting Senator. He served three months total in the office.
, to Mary E. (née Porter) and Marion Francis Mulkey. He was raised there and attended the Portland Public Schools before enrolling in the University of Oregon
in Eugene
in 1892. Mulkey graduated with a bachelor of laws degree from the school in 1896. He passed the Oregon bar
in 1898 and entered private legal practice in Portland. In 1899, he received another law degree, this time from the New York Law School
in New York City
.
, serving until 1902, and was the president of the group in 1901. He was chairman of the Oregon State Tax Commission in 1905-1906. On November 6, 1906, Mulkey was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John H. Mitchell
, replacing appointee John M. Gearin
. Mulkey was one of the first two Senators to be elected under Oregon's direct primary law
, in which Senators were selected by popular vote, and then were officially elected to the position by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
to comply with Article One of the U.S. Constitution. (In 1914, the 17th Amendment
established direct election of Senators.) He served from January 23, 1907, until March 4, 1907, and was not a candidate for re-election in 1907.
Mulkey left Congress and returned to Portland where he resumed the practice of law. From 1911 to 1916 he served as the chairman of the city's Public Docks.
On November 5, 1918, he was again elected to the U.S. Senate, this time to fill the unexpired term of Harry Lane
, who had died on May 23, 1917. Mulkey replaced Charles L. McNary
who had been appointed temporarily to the position, and who had won the election for a full-term in office starting in January 1919. Mulkey served the second time from November 6, 1918, until his resignation, effective December 17, 1918. Mulkey resigned early to allow McNary to take office early and gain a slight seniority edge over incoming freshman Senators.
Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission. Frederick William Mulkey died in Portland on May 5, 1924, and the age of 50. His interment was in River View Cemetery
in that city. Joseph Norton Dolph, also a U.S. Senator from Oregon, was Frederick Mulkey's uncle.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, he began his political career on the Portland City Council, serving one year as its president. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he twice served as a United States Senator from Oregon, filling terms vacated by the deaths of the sitting Senator. He served three months total in the office.
Early life
On January 6, 1874, Frederick Mulkey was born in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, to Mary E. (née Porter) and Marion Francis Mulkey. He was raised there and attended the Portland Public Schools before enrolling in the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
in 1892. Mulkey graduated with a bachelor of laws degree from the school in 1896. He passed the Oregon bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1898 and entered private legal practice in Portland. In 1899, he received another law degree, this time from the New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Political career
In 1900, Mulkey joined the Portland City CouncilGovernment of Portland, Oregon
The Government of Portland, Oregon, a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, is based on a city commission government system. Elected officials include a Mayor, a City Council, and a City Auditor. The mayor and commissioners are responsible legislative policy and oversee the various bureaus that...
, serving until 1902, and was the president of the group in 1901. He was chairman of the Oregon State Tax Commission in 1905-1906. On November 6, 1906, Mulkey was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John H. Mitchell
John H. Mitchell
John Hipple Mitchell, also known as John Mitchell Hipple, John H. Mitchell, or J. H. Mitchell was a controversial American lawyer and politician, who served as a Republican United States Senator from Oregon on three occasions between 1872 and 1905...
, replacing appointee John M. Gearin
John M. Gearin
John McDermeid Gearin was an American politician and attorney from the state of Oregon. A native of the eastern portion of the state, he represented Portland on the western side of the state in the Oregon House of Representatives...
. Mulkey was one of the first two Senators to be elected under Oregon's direct primary law
Direct Legislation League
The Oregon Direct Legislation League was an organization of political activists founded by William S. U'Ren in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1898. U'Ren had been politically activated by reading the influential 1893 book Direct Legislation Through the Initiative and Referendum, and the group's...
, in which Senators were selected by popular vote, and then were officially elected to the position by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
to comply with Article One of the U.S. Constitution. (In 1914, the 17th Amendment
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures...
established direct election of Senators.) He served from January 23, 1907, until March 4, 1907, and was not a candidate for re-election in 1907.
Mulkey left Congress and returned to Portland where he resumed the practice of law. From 1911 to 1916 he served as the chairman of the city's Public Docks.
On November 5, 1918, he was again elected to the U.S. Senate, this time to fill the unexpired term of Harry Lane
Harry Lane
Harry Lane was an American physician and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he worked as the head of the state insane asylum before entering local politics and served as mayor of Portland...
, who had died on May 23, 1917. Mulkey replaced Charles L. McNary
Charles L. McNary
Charles Linza McNary was a United States Republican politician from Oregon. He served in the Senate from 1917 to 1944, and was Senate Minority Leader from 1933 to 1944. In the Senate, McNary helped to pass legislation that led to the construction of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, and worked...
who had been appointed temporarily to the position, and who had won the election for a full-term in office starting in January 1919. Mulkey served the second time from November 6, 1918, until his resignation, effective December 17, 1918. Mulkey resigned early to allow McNary to take office early and gain a slight seniority edge over incoming freshman Senators.
Later life
Upon leaving the Senate for a second time, he resumed the practice of law at Portland. From 1921 to 1924 he was chairman of the Multnomah CountyMultnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission. Frederick William Mulkey died in Portland on May 5, 1924, and the age of 50. His interment was in River View Cemetery
River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
River View Cemetery in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States, is a non-profit cemetery founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon, including many governors and United States Senators...
in that city. Joseph Norton Dolph, also a U.S. Senator from Oregon, was Frederick Mulkey's uncle.