Nathaniel B. Dial
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Barksdale Dial (April 24, 1862 December 11, 1940) was a United States Senator from South Carolina
from 1919 to 1925.
Born near Laurens
, he attended the common schools, Richmond College
(Virginia) and Vanderbilt University
. He studied law at the University of Virginia
at Charlottesville
, was admitted to the bar in 1883, and commenced practice in Laurens. He was mayor of Laurens from 1887 to 1891 and again in 1895; he declined the office of consul
to Zurich
, Switzerland
, tendered by President Grover Cleveland
in 1893. Dial engaged in banking and in various manufacturing enterprises, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1912; he was, however, elected in 1918 as a Democrat
to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1919, to March 4, 1925; he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1924 and in 1925 was a member of the commission to report on the use of the nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals, Alabama
. He resumed the practice of law in South Carolina and Washington, D.C.
, and also his former manufacturing enterprises in South Carolina; Dial died in Washington, D.C., in 1940; and is interred at the Laurens City Cemetery.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
from 1919 to 1925.
Born near Laurens
Laurens, South Carolina
Laurens is a city in Laurens County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 9,916 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Laurens County.-History:...
, he attended the common schools, Richmond College
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
(Virginia) and Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. He studied law at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
at Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, was admitted to the bar in 1883, and commenced practice in Laurens. He was mayor of Laurens from 1887 to 1891 and again in 1895; he declined the office of consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
to Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, tendered by President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
in 1893. Dial engaged in banking and in various manufacturing enterprises, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1912; he was, however, elected in 1918 as a Democrat
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...
to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1919, to March 4, 1925; he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1924 and in 1925 was a member of the commission to report on the use of the nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
. He resumed the practice of law in South Carolina and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and also his former manufacturing enterprises in South Carolina; Dial died in Washington, D.C., in 1940; and is interred at the Laurens City Cemetery.