Wellington D. Rankin
Encyclopedia
Wellington D. Rankin was a Republican public official from the state of Montana.
He was born Wellington Duncan Rankin on September 16, 1884 in Missoula, Montana, the son of John and Olive (née Pickering) Rankin. He grew up in a political family, with several of his relatives holding public office. An attorney by profession, he served in the United States Army during World War I. He was elected state Attorney General in 1920 and was reelected in 1924. In 1926, he was appointed U.S. Attorney for the state of Montana, a position he held until 1928, when he ran unsuccessfully for Governor. He returned to practicing law until 1942, when he ran for the U.S. Senate against liberal incumbent Democrat James Edward Murray
. He lost to Murray by a vote of 83,673 to 82,461 http://google.com/search?q=cache:FTPHh_pruLYJ:clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1942election.pdf+James+Murray+Wellington+D.+Rankin+1942&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&ie=UTF-8, but never sought elective office again.
During his lifetime, he was overshadowed by his older sister, Jeannette Rankin
, who was elected U.S. Representative in 1916 and 1940, voting against U.S entry into both World War I and World War II. Her vote against the United States entering World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor was highly unpopular and contributed to Murray's reelection in 1942.
He was born Wellington Duncan Rankin on September 16, 1884 in Missoula, Montana, the son of John and Olive (née Pickering) Rankin. He grew up in a political family, with several of his relatives holding public office. An attorney by profession, he served in the United States Army during World War I. He was elected state Attorney General in 1920 and was reelected in 1924. In 1926, he was appointed U.S. Attorney for the state of Montana, a position he held until 1928, when he ran unsuccessfully for Governor. He returned to practicing law until 1942, when he ran for the U.S. Senate against liberal incumbent Democrat James Edward Murray
James Edward Murray
James Edward Murray was a United States Senator from Montana, and a liberal leader of the Democratic Party. He served in the United States Senate from 1934 until 1961....
. He lost to Murray by a vote of 83,673 to 82,461 http://google.com/search?q=cache:FTPHh_pruLYJ:clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1942election.pdf+James+Murray+Wellington+D.+Rankin+1942&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&ie=UTF-8, but never sought elective office again.
During his lifetime, he was overshadowed by his older sister, Jeannette Rankin
Jeannette Rankin
Jeannette Pickering Rankin was the first woman in the US Congress. A Republican, she was elected statewide in Montana in 1916 and again in 1940. A lifelong pacifist, she voted against the entry of the United States into both World War I in 1917 and World War II in 1941, the only member of Congress...
, who was elected U.S. Representative in 1916 and 1940, voting against U.S entry into both World War I and World War II. Her vote against the United States entering World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor was highly unpopular and contributed to Murray's reelection in 1942.