History of Uncasville, (New London County) Connecticut United States of America

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James Albert Gary, cabinet officer, was born in Uncasville, Conn., Oct. 22. 1833; son of James Sullivan and Pamelia A. (Forrest) Gary; grandson of John Gary, and great grandson of John Gary, a farmer, who emigrated from Lancashire, England, in 1712, and settled in New Hampshire. His father was a cotton manufacturer and removed to Alberton, Md., in 1840, where he established the Alberton cotton mills. James Albert was educated at Rockhill institute and at Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa. He became a partner in the manufacturing firm of James S. Gary & Son in 1861, and on the death of his father, March 7, 1870, he succeeded as head of the firm. He was president of the Merchants and Manufacturers association and of the Citizens national bank for several years. He was also elected vice-president of the Consolidated gas company of Baltimore, and a director in the Savings bank of Baltimore, the Baltimore ware house company, the American fire insurance company, the Merchants and Manufacturers insurance company, and the Baltimore trust and guarantee company. In 1856 he was the defeated Whig candidate for state senator; was a delegate to the Union convention held in Baltimore in 1861; was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for representative from the 5th district of Maryland in the 42d congress in 1870, and in 1879 failed in the election for governor of the state. He served as a delegate to the Republican national conventions of 1872, 1876, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892 and 1896, and was a member of the Republican national committee from 1880 to 1896. He was nominated by President McKinley in 1897 postmaster-general of the United States, and his nomination was confirmed by the senate March 5, 1897. On April 21, 1898, he resigned his cabinet office on account of illness. He was married in 1856 to Lavinia W., daughter of James Corrie, and their son. E. Stanley Gary, became junior partner in the firm of James S. Gary & Son.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Uncasville, (New London County) Connecticut

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