Frederick Van Ness Bradley (April 12, 1898 – May 24, 1947) was an American politician who served as the
U.S. 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 c ...
for
Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States congressional district northwest of Detroit, comprising portions of northwestern Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties. Until 1993, the district covered the state's Upper Peninsula an ...
from 1939 until his death in 1947. He was a member of the
Republican Party.
Early life and career
Bradley was born in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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and moved to
Rogers City, Michigan
Rogers City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,827 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Presque Isle County. The city is adjacent to Rogers Township, but is politically independent.
Rogers City is located on L ...
, in 1910 where he attended the public schools and graduated from Rogers City High School. He attended Montclair Academy in
Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair () is a township in Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated on the cliffs of the Watchung Mountains, Montclair is a wealthy and diverse commuter town and suburb of New York City within the New York metropolitan area. As ...
and in 1918 joined the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
for
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Bradley served in the
Student Army Training Corps at
Plattsburgh Barracks
The "Old Stone Barracks" is the last remaining structure of a proposed quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle of early U.S. Army barracks built at Plattsburgh, New York (state), New York in 1838. Of the four main buildings initially planned for ...
,
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
* '' ...
.
He graduated from
Cornell University
Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...
in 1921. His father was president of the Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company, and Bradley worked for the company as a salesman in
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...
from 1921 to 1923. He was a purchasing agent with
Bradley Transportation Company
The Bradley Transportation Company, was an American shipping company that was a subsidiary of the Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company and handled its shipment of limestone to its parent company U.S. Steel. It boasted a large fleet of self- ...
in Rogers City, Michigan from 1924 to 1938.
Congress
In 1938, Bradley was the successful
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 ...
nominee to represent
Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States congressional district northwest of Detroit, comprising portions of northwestern Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties. Until 1993, the district covered the state's Upper Peninsula an ...
, defeating incumbent
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
John Luecke. He was reelected four times and served from January 3, 1939 until his death. He was chairman of the
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries The United States House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries is a defunct committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries was created on December 21, 1887, replacing the Select Committee on Ameri ...
in the
80th Congress
The 80th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1947, ...
. With his longtime interest in Great Lakes shipping, Bradley was the legislative sponsor behind the construction of the
Round Island Passage Light
Round Island Passage Light is an automated, unmanned lighthouse located in the Round Island Channel in the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan. The channel is a branch of Lake Huron.
History
The Round Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1895 to m ...
.
Bradley died in
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decades ...
on May 24, 1947 while there to attend a meeting of the
United States Coast Guard Academy
The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is a service academy of the United States Coast Guard in New London, Connecticut. Founded in 1876, it is the smallest of the five U.S. service academies and provides education to future Coast G ...
board of visitors. He was interred at Rogers City Memorial Park.
Family
In 1922, Bradley married Marcia Marie Hillidge of
Front Royal, Virginia
Front Royal is the only incorporated town in Warren County, Virginia, United States. The population was 15,011 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Warren County.
History
The entire Shenandoah Valley including the area to become F ...
. They were the parents of a son, Carl, who died in 1938 at the age of two.
See also
*
References
The Political Graveyard*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bradley, Frederick Van Ness
1898 births
1947 deaths
Cornell University alumni
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan
20th-century American politicians