Frederick Charles Hicks (originally Frederick Hicks Cocks; March 6, 1872 - December 14, 1925) was an American banker and politician who served as a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

from 1916 to 1923.

Biography

He was born in

Westbury, New York The Incorporated Village of Westbury is a Village (New York), village in the North Hempstead, New York, Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York (state), New York, United States. It is located a ...

, on March 6, 1872. He attended the public schools,

Swarthmore College Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the earliest coeduca ...

, and

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

. He engaged in the banking business. Frederick C. Hicks' brother,

William Willets Cocks William Willets Cocks (July 24, 1861 – May 24, 1932) was an American politician who served three terms as from New York from 1905 to 1911. Life Born in Old Westbury, Long Island, he attended private schools and Swarthmore College. He engag ...

, was also a U.S. Representative from New York.

Congress

He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress. He was elected as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

to the Sixty-fourth and to the three succeeding Congresses, holding office from January 4, 1916, to March 3, 1923. His 1914 election was one of the closest in history. He was originally declared the winner by 15 votes, but subsequent lawsuits narrowed the lead to 4 votes and then 10. The lawsuits took more than a year and Hicks wasn't certified the winner until December 21. He was sworn in when Congress reconvened in January 1916, making this one of the longest elections in the history of the House. Though his opponent

Lathrop Brown Lathrop Brown (February 26, 1883 – November 28, 1959) was a wealthy United States Representative from New York. Born in New York City, he graduated from Groton School in 1900 and from Harvard University in 1903, where he was roommates with Fran ...

contested the argument, arguing that some precinct captains were drunk and careless, he lost and Hicks retained his seat. Rep. Hicks was a supporter of women's suffrage. He had been at the bedside of his dying wife prior to the final vote on the Nineteenth Amendment in 1918, but left at her urging to take part in the vote. He provided the final, crucial vote, and then returned home for her funeral.Gail Collins, New York Times
Favorite August
August 13, 2010 He was not a candidate for renomination in 1922 and declined a diplomatic position to

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

tendered by President

Warren Harding Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923) was the 29th president of the United States, serving from 1921 until his death in 1923. A member of the Republican Party, he was one of the most popular sitting U.S. presidents. ...

Later career

Hicks was eastern director of the

Republican National Committee The Republican National Committee (RNC) is a U.S. political committee that assists the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican brand and political platform, as well as assisting in fu ...

campaign in 1924, and was appointed by President

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a History of the Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer ...

as a member of the commission to represent the United States at the celebration of the Centennial of the Battle of Aracucho, held at

Lima, Peru Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...

, during December 1924. He was appointed

Alien Property Custodian The Office of Alien Property Custodian was an office within the government of the United States during World War I and again during World War II, serving as a custodian to property that belonged to US enemies. The office was created in 1917 by E ...

on April 10, 1925, and served until his death in Washington, D.C., in 1925. Interment was in Quaker Cemetery, Westbury,

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

Death

He died on December 14, 1925.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hicks, Frederick C. 1872 births 1925 deaths Politicians from Nassau County, New York Swarthmore College alumni Harvard University alumni Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) People from Westbury, New York