Background
James Bennett McCreary was born in Madison County, Kentucky. He was the son of Sabrina D. (Bennett) and E. R. McCreary, a physician.
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James Bennett McCreary was born in Madison County, Kentucky. He was the son of Sabrina D. (Bennett) and E. R. McCreary, a physician.
He was educated in the common schools, at Centre College, from which he graduated (A. B. ) in 1857, and in the law department of Cumberland University, where he received the degree of LL. B. in 1859. Admitted to the bar in 1859, he practised in Richmond, Ky.
During the Civil War he enlisted in the 7th (later the 11th) Kentucky Cavalry, C. S. A. , and was commissioned major on September 10, 1862. Under General John H. Morgan, his regiment took a prominent part in the battle of Hartsville, Tenn. He raided Monticello, Ky. , and Burkesville, Ky. , and rendered distinguished service in the battle of Greasy Creek. On July 4, 1863, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Captured at Cheshire, Ohio, during Morgan's raid, he was sent to the Ohio penitentiary and then to Morris Island, near Charleston, S. C. Later he was exchanged and, after a short furlough, took command of a battalion in Virginia under Gen. J. C. Breckinridge. He joined the conservative Democrats, was chosen a delegate to the national convention in 1868, was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1869 to 1875, and speaker from 1871 to 1875. He favored the much-discussed charter of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, and his election as speaker facilitated its passage. Then he won the gubernatorial nomination over the popular Gen. John Stuart Williams and defeated the Republicancandidate, John M. Harlan.
As governor from 1875 to 1879 he devoted himself to suppressing mountain feuds and establishing an independent agricultural college, a normal school, a health board, and an agricultural department. Beginning in 1884, he was six times elected to Congress, usually with little or no opposition. In the House, he served on the coinage and foreign affairs committees and was also interested in the tariff. He introduced the bill authorizing the first Pan-American conference. As a delegate to the International Monetary Conference at Brussels in 1892 (Report of the Commissioners on Behalf of the U. S. , and Journal of the Sessions of Nov. 22, 1892 to Dec. 17, 1892, 1893) he favored international bimetallism and opposed the Rothschild silver-purchase plan. After the failure of the conference, he favored the repeal of the silver-purchase act and allied himself with the Sound-Money Democrats, who supported him for the Senate in 1896. But the Silver Democrats prevented even his nomination for the House. In 1900 he was made state chairman and was delegate to the four national conventions from 1900 to 1912. In 1902 he was elected to the Senate but was defeated in 1908 and 1914. In the Senate he served on the committees for foreign affairs, for immigration, and for military affairs. In 1911 he easily won the gubernatorial nomination and election on a platform of progress and county option. To fulfill his platform he recommended county option, a longer school term, cheaper textbooks, campaigns against tuberculosis and illiteracy, departments of banking, public roads, fish and game, and forests, workmen's compensation, restriction of campaign funds, and direct primaries. These recommendations, except the last three, were heeded by the legislature. He spent his last years in Richmond, Ky. , where he died.
McCreary is known as democrat congressman and two-term Governor of Kentucky. He served his first term as Governor from 1875-1879. He served in the House of Representatives from 1885-1897 and in the US Senate from 1903-1909. After leaving the Senate he was reelected Governor of Kentucky in 1912 and served until 1916.
He was married on June 12, 1867, to Katherine Hughes of Lexington.
