James Albertus Tawney

James Albertus Tawney (January 3, 1855 – June 12, 1919) was a blacksmith, machinist and U.S. politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota. He was the first House Majority Whip, holding that position from 1899 to 1905.

Tawney was born in Mount Pleasant Township, near Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He apprenticed with his father as a blacksmith, and subsequently learned the trade of machinist. In 1877, moved to Winona, Minnesota, where he was employed as a blacksmith and machinist until 1881. He attended the law department of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and was admitted to the bar in 1882 and commenced practice in Winona. Tawney was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1890. In 1892, he was elected to Congress as a Republican, and served in the 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 59th, 60th, and 61st congresses. During his time in Congress, Tawney served as Majority Whip and as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Congressional nomination in 1910. He was member of the International Joint Commission, created to prevent disputes regarding the use of Boundary Waters between the United States and Canada, from 1911, until his death, serving as chairman of the United States section from September 17, 1911, to December 1, 1914. Tawney died at Excelsior Springs, Clay County, Missouri.

References

• Minnesota Legislators Past and Present

• James Albertus Tawney at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William H. Harries	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 1st congressional district 1893–1911	Succeeded by Sydney Anderson
Party political offices
Preceded by No predecessor	House Majority Whip c. 1899–1905	Succeeded by James Eli Watson (R-IN)