Robert L. Ramsay (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Lincoln Ramsay was a Democratic
U.S. Congressman
from West Virginia
. The son of a coal miner
, Robert Ramsay was born in Witton Gilbert
, County Durham
, England
. Ramsay immigrated to the United States
in 1881 with his parents, who settled in New Cumberland
, Hancock County
, West Virginia
. He attended the public schools and was graduated from West Virginia University
Law School
at Morgantown
in 1901.
In 1901 Ramsay was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in New Cumberland. Then in 1905 he moved to Wellsburg
, Brooke County
, West Virginia
and continued the practice of law. In 1905 he became the city attorney of Follansbee
, Brooke County
, West Virginia, serving until 1920. Ramsay served as two terms as prosecuting attorney of Brooke County, 1908–1912 and 1916-1920. Ramsay became a member of the board of governors for West Virginia University from 1927 until 1930.
Robert Ramsay was elected from West Virginia's 1st District
as a Democrat to the Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-fifth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1933 until January 3, 1939. The 1938 elections proved to be unsuccessful for Ramsay, as he was defeated by A. C. Schiffler
for reelection to the Seventy-sixth Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Wellsburg
, West Virginia. He was re-elected to the Seventy-seventh Congress, serving from January 3, 1941 until January 3, 1943. Poor results followed Ramsay into the 1942 elections, as he was once again defeated for re-election by A. C. Schiffler
to the Seventy-eighth Congress.
Ramsay served as a special assistant to the United States Attorney General
from 1943 to 1945. Then he served as assistant attorney general of West Virginia 1945-1948. Ramsay was re-elected to the Eighty-first and Eighty-second Congresses, serving from January 3, 1949 until January 3, 1953. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1952 and then resumed the practice of law and was assistant prosecuting attorney 1952-1956. Robert L. Ramsay died in Wheeling
, West Virginia, November 14, 1956 and was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, Follansbee, West Virginia.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. The son of a coal miner
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
, Robert Ramsay was born in Witton Gilbert
Witton Gilbert
Witton Gilbert is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England. It is situated to the north-west of Durham.The village once had a railway station on the...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Ramsay immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1881 with his parents, who settled in New Cumberland
New Cumberland, West Virginia
New Cumberland is a city in Hancock County, West Virginia, USA, along the Ohio River. It is the county seat and is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,099 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
, Hancock County
Hancock County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,667 people, 13,678 households, and 9,506 families residing in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile . There were 14,728 housing units at an average density of 178 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He attended the public schools and was graduated from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
Law School
West Virginia University College of Law
The West Virginia University College of Law is the professional school for the study of law at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The law school was established in 1878 as the first professional school in the state of West Virginia...
at Morgantown
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
in 1901.
In 1901 Ramsay was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in New Cumberland. Then in 1905 he moved to Wellsburg
Wellsburg, West Virginia
Wellsburg is a city in and the county seat of Brooke County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2000 Census recorded a population of 2,891, down from a count of 3,385 in the 1990 Census...
, Brooke County
Brooke County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,447 people, 10,396 households, and 7,152 families residing in the county. The population density was 286 people per square mile . There were 11,150 housing units at an average density of 126 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and continued the practice of law. In 1905 he became the city attorney of Follansbee
Follansbee, West Virginia
Follansbee is a city in Brooke County, West Virginia, United States, located along the Ohio River. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, West Virginia-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Brooke County
Brooke County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,447 people, 10,396 households, and 7,152 families residing in the county. The population density was 286 people per square mile . There were 11,150 housing units at an average density of 126 per square mile...
, West Virginia, serving until 1920. Ramsay served as two terms as prosecuting attorney of Brooke County, 1908–1912 and 1916-1920. Ramsay became a member of the board of governors for West Virginia University from 1927 until 1930.
Robert Ramsay was elected from West Virginia's 1st District
West Virginia's 1st congressional district
West Virginia's 1st congressional district is located in the northern part of the state. It is the most regularly drawn of the state's three districts....
as a Democrat to the Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-fifth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1933 until January 3, 1939. The 1938 elections proved to be unsuccessful for Ramsay, as he was defeated by A. C. Schiffler
A. C. Schiffler
Andrew Charles Schiffler was a Republican United States Representative and attorney from West Virginia. Mr. Schiffler was born in Wheeling on August 10, 1889. He served in the Seventy-sixth Congress ; and the Seventy-eighth Congress...
for reelection to the Seventy-sixth Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Wellsburg
Wellsburg, West Virginia
Wellsburg is a city in and the county seat of Brooke County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2000 Census recorded a population of 2,891, down from a count of 3,385 in the 1990 Census...
, West Virginia. He was re-elected to the Seventy-seventh Congress, serving from January 3, 1941 until January 3, 1943. Poor results followed Ramsay into the 1942 elections, as he was once again defeated for re-election by A. C. Schiffler
A. C. Schiffler
Andrew Charles Schiffler was a Republican United States Representative and attorney from West Virginia. Mr. Schiffler was born in Wheeling on August 10, 1889. He served in the Seventy-sixth Congress ; and the Seventy-eighth Congress...
to the Seventy-eighth Congress.
Ramsay served as a special assistant to the United States Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
from 1943 to 1945. Then he served as assistant attorney general of West Virginia 1945-1948. Ramsay was re-elected to the Eighty-first and Eighty-second Congresses, serving from January 3, 1949 until January 3, 1953. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1952 and then resumed the practice of law and was assistant prosecuting attorney 1952-1956. Robert L. Ramsay died in Wheeling
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, West Virginia, November 14, 1956 and was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, Follansbee, West Virginia.