- Victor H. Metcalf
Victor Howard Metcalf (
October 10 ,1853 –February 20 ,1936 ) was an American politician.Born in
Utica, New York , onOctober 10 ,1853 to William and Sarah P. (Howard) Metcalf. He attended the Utica public schools, Utica Free Academy, and Russell's Military Institute atNew Haven ,Connecticut . In 1872, he enteredYale College , he left in his junior year to attendYale Law School graduating in 1876 and was admitted to theConnecticut bar. In 1877, he continued his legal education at Hamilton College, admitted to theNew York bar. He practiced in Utica in 1877 and then moved toOakland, California in 1879. His law practice in California, handled real property and commercial cases.He married in 1881, Emily Corinne Nicholson. They had two children.
He was elected as a Republican to the 56th, 57th and
58th Congress es, serving 1899 until 1904. In congress he served on Naval Affairs and Ways and Means committees. Metcalf's legislation for reclamation of arid lands, had him in touch with PresidentTheodore Roosevelt .July 1, 1904 he was appointed
United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor by PresidentTheodore Roosevelt , serving until December 12, 1906, when he becameUnited States Secretary of the Navy . During his term, the world cruise of theGreat White Fleet . The pressures of office took a toll on his health he resigned as navy secretary November 13, 1908. After leaving Roosevelt's Cabinet he returned to Oakland, resumed his practice of law and engaged in the banking business. Little more than a month after his wife Emily died, he died in Oakland, February 20, 1936.Buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, Calif.
External links
* [http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/roosevelt/essays/cabinet/432 Biography]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/metaker-meyenborg.html The Political Graveyard]
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