Edward Lowber Stokes (September 29, 1880 – November 8, 1964) was an American politician from Philadelphia who served 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 ...

member of the

U.S. House of Representatives 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 ...

for

Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district Pennsylvania's second congressional district includes all of Northeast Philadelphia and parts of North Philadelphia east of Broad Street, as well as portions of Philadelphia's River Wards. It has been represented by Democrat Brendan Boyle since 2 ...

from 1931 to 1933 and

Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district is a district in the state of Pennsylvania. It includes all of Chester County, the city of Reading, and Reading's southeastern suburbs in Berks County. The district is represented by Democrat Chrissy Houl ...

from 1933 to 1935.

Early life and education

Stokes was born on September 29, 1880 in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, Pennsylvania. He graduated from St. Paul's School in

Concord, New Hampshire Concord () is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Hampshire and the seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2020 census the population was 43,976, making it the third largest city in New Hampshire behind Manchester and Nashua. The village of ...

. He was an international polo player and was captain of the

Philadelphia Country Club Philadelphia Country Club is a private country club located in the Gladwyne suburb of Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It has 27 holes of regulation golf including one 18-hole championship course, a nine-hole course, an ...

polo team. Stokes served as a vestryman for Christ Church in Philadelphia from 1913 to 1940.

Career

He was employed as a clerk for a trust company and later engaged as an investment dealer. He founded the company Edward Stokes & Co. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the

Pennsylvania House of Representatives The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts. It ...

in 1930. Stokes was elected as a Republican to the

72nd Congress The 72nd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1931 ...

in 1931 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George S. Graham and served until 1935. He was not a candidate for renomination because he was a gubernatorial candidate in 1934. He was again a candidate for Congress in 1950, and a candidate for mayor and councilman at large in 1952. He remained engaged in investment banking until his retirement in 1955.

He died in Willistown Township, Pennsylvania on November 8, 1964 and was interred at St. David's Episcopal Church in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stokes, Edward L. 1880 births 1964 deaths 20th-century American politicians American company founders American investment bankers American polo players Burials at St. David's Episcopal Church (Radnor, Pennsylvania) Politicians from Philadelphia Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania St. Paul's School (New Hampshire) alumni