Richard Olney (January 5, 1871 Milton, Strafford County, New Hampshire – January 15, 1939 Boston, Massachusetts) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts.

Richard Olney II
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 14th district
In office
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1921
Preceded byEdward Gilmore
Succeeded byLouis A. Frothingham
Personal details
Born(1871-01-05)January 5, 1871
Milton, New Hampshire
DiedJanuary 15, 1939(1939-01-15) (aged 68)
Boston, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materBrown University
OccupationBusinessman

Life

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He attended the public schools, Leicester Academy and graduated from Brown University in 1892. He became a wool merchant. Olney was elected a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1902. He was chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Leicester.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in 1903, was member of the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1912. Olney was elected as a Democrat to the 64th, 65th and 66th United States Congresses, serving from March 4, 1915, to March 3, 1921.

He was appointed a member of the World War Foreign Debt Commission in 1923 and reappointed by President Calvin Coolidge in 1925. He served as chairman of the Massachusetts Parole Board, and was chairman of the Massachusetts Commission of the Necessaries of Life from 1938 until his death. He was buried at the Cherry Valley Cemetery in Leicester.

Olney was a nephew of U.S. Secretary of State and Attorney General Richard Olney and of New York County D. A. Peter B. Olney.

References

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  • Eggert, Gerald G. "Richard Olney and the Income Tax Cases." Mississippi Valley Historical Review 48 (June 1961): 24-41
  • James, Henry. Richard Olney and his Public Service. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1923.
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  • United States Congress. "Richard Olney II (id: O000080)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 14th congressional district

1915 - 1921
Succeeded by