William J. Bradley
Encyclopedia
William James Lee Bradley (May 5, 1852 – October 13, 1916) was an American
businessman and Republican Party politician who served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
and President of the New Jersey Senate
.
on May 5, 1852, later moving to Wilmington, Delaware
and then to Camden, New Jersey
. In Camden he worked as a receiver at the Storey Cotton Company. In 1873 he joined the American Dredging Company of Philadelphia as a patternmaker, and rose through the ranks to become Chief Engineer and later General Superintendent of the Camden yards. In 1895 he designed the hydraulic dredge Delaware, and supervised its construction -- on time and below budget -- in a collaborative effort with the Bucyrus Steam Shovel & Dredge Company. Bradley became president of American Dredging in April 1908 on the death of his predecessor, L. Y. Schermerhorn.
Bradley's political career began in 1892, when he was elected to the Camden City Council. He was also elected to the General Assembly
and was re-elected four times. He was named Speaker of the Assembly for the 1901 and 1902 sessions.
In 1902 he was elected to the State Senate
, serving three terms for Camden County
. He was chosen as President of the Senate in 1905 and 1906. Bradley was one of the few politicians in state history to hold the leadership posts in both the Assembly and the Senate.
In 1911, Bradley diverged from his Republican colleagues, supporting a number of legislative reforms favored by Governor Woodrow Wilson
. In retaliation, Republican party leadership defeated his renomination to the Senate.
Bradley died on October 13, 1916 following an emergency operation for uremic poisoning at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia. He was survived by his wife, Ann Ross Sheldon, two sons, Floyd Henry Bradley and William James Lee Bradley, Jr and two daughters, Edna Bradley and Marion Ross Bradley. His widow received the following condolences from President Wilson:
"My dear Mrs Bradley, It is with genuine grief that I have heard of the death of your husband. I learned in my association with him at Trenton to respect his character and judgment very deeply, and I feel that in him we have lost a man of high principle and great public usefulness. I felt that I could not deny myself this expression of admiration and deep regret. Cordially and sincerely yours, Woodrow Wilson."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and Republican Party politician who served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
and President of the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
.
Biography
Bradley was born in Sharptown, MarylandSharptown, Maryland
Sharptown is a town in Wicomico County, Maryland, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sharptown is located at ....
on May 5, 1852, later moving to Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
and then to Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
. In Camden he worked as a receiver at the Storey Cotton Company. In 1873 he joined the American Dredging Company of Philadelphia as a patternmaker, and rose through the ranks to become Chief Engineer and later General Superintendent of the Camden yards. In 1895 he designed the hydraulic dredge Delaware, and supervised its construction -- on time and below budget -- in a collaborative effort with the Bucyrus Steam Shovel & Dredge Company. Bradley became president of American Dredging in April 1908 on the death of his predecessor, L. Y. Schermerhorn.
Bradley's political career began in 1892, when he was elected to the Camden City Council. He was also elected to the General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
and was re-elected four times. He was named Speaker of the Assembly for the 1901 and 1902 sessions.
In 1902 he was elected to the State Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
, serving three terms for Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
. He was chosen as President of the Senate in 1905 and 1906. Bradley was one of the few politicians in state history to hold the leadership posts in both the Assembly and the Senate.
In 1911, Bradley diverged from his Republican colleagues, supporting a number of legislative reforms favored by Governor Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
. In retaliation, Republican party leadership defeated his renomination to the Senate.
Bradley died on October 13, 1916 following an emergency operation for uremic poisoning at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System located in the University City section of West Philadelphia. The hospital was founded at its current location in 1874 by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,...
in Philadelphia. He was survived by his wife, Ann Ross Sheldon, two sons, Floyd Henry Bradley and William James Lee Bradley, Jr and two daughters, Edna Bradley and Marion Ross Bradley. His widow received the following condolences from President Wilson:
"My dear Mrs Bradley, It is with genuine grief that I have heard of the death of your husband. I learned in my association with him at Trenton to respect his character and judgment very deeply, and I feel that in him we have lost a man of high principle and great public usefulness. I felt that I could not deny myself this expression of admiration and deep regret. Cordially and sincerely yours, Woodrow Wilson."
External links
- William J. Bradley at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...