Louis E. McComas

Louis Emory McComas (October 28, 1846 – November 10, 1907) was a United States Senator and a United States Representative from Maryland, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia and an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, now the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Louis E. McComas
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia
In office June 26, 1905 – November 10, 1907
Appointed by	Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by	Martin Ferdinand Morris
Succeeded by	Josiah Alexander Van Orsdel
United States senator from Maryland
In office March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1905
Preceded by	Arthur Pue Gorman
Succeeded by	Isidor Rayner
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia
In office November 17, 1892 – March 3, 1899
Appointed by	Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	Martin V. Montgomery
Succeeded by	Harry M. Clabaugh
United States Representative from Maryland's 6th congressional district
In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1891
Preceded by	Milton Urner
Succeeded by	William McMahon McKaig
Personal details
Born	Louis Emory McComas (1846-10-28)October 28, 1846 Washington County, Maryland
Died	November 10, 1907(1907-11-10) (aged 61) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Rose Hill Cemetery Hagerstown, Maryland
Political party	Republican
Relatives	Katharine Byron Goodloe Byron

Education and career

Born on October 28, 1846, in Washington County, Maryland near Hagerstown,[1] McComas attended St. James College (now St. James School) in Maryland,[2] then graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1866 and read law in 1868.[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Hagerstown from 1868 to 1892.[1]

Congressional service

McComas was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for election in 1876 to the 45th United States Congress.[2] He was elected as a Republican from Maryland's 6th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 48th United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1891.[2] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the 52nd United States Congress.[2] He was the secretary of the Republican National Committee in 1892.[2]

Later career

During the period after his departure from the United States House of Representatives until his federal judicial appointment, McComas resumed private practice in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] He also was a Professor of International Law at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.[2]

Supreme Court of the District of Columbia service

McComas received a recess appointment from President Benjamin Harrison on November 17, 1892, to an Associate Justice seat on the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (now the United States District Court for the District of Columbia) vacated by Associate Justice Martin V. Montgomery.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Harrison on December 6, 1892.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 25, 1893, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on March 3, 1899, due to his resignation.[1]

Senate service

McComas was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate from Maryland and served from March 4, 1899, until March 3, 1905.[2] He was Chairman of the Committee on Organization, Conduct, and Expenditures of Executive Departments for the 56th United States Congress and Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor for the 57th and 58th United States Congresses.[2]

Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia service

McComas received a recess appointment from President Theodore Roosevelt on June 26, 1905, to an Associate Justice seat on the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia (now the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit) vacated by Associate Justice Martin Ferdinand Morris.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Roosevelt on December 5, 1905.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 6, 1905, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on November 10, 1907, due to his death in Washington, D.C.[1] He was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown.[2]

Family

McComas's granddaughter, Katharine Byron, and great-grandson, Goodloe Byron, also represented Maryland in the United States House of Representatives, both from the same seat held by McComas.[2]

References

1. Louis Emory McComas at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. United States Congress. "Louis E. McComas (id: M000351)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Louis E. McComas (id: M000351)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Louis Emory McComas at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Milton Urner	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 6th congressional district 1883–1891	Succeeded by William McMahon McKaig
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Arthur Pue Gorman	U.S. senator (Class 1) from Maryland 1899–1905 Served alongside: George L. Wellington, Arthur Pue Gorman	Succeeded by Isidor Rayner
Legal offices
Preceded by Martin V. Montgomery	Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia 1892–1899	Succeeded by Harry M. Clabaugh
Preceded by Martin Ferdinand Morris	Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia 1905–1907	Succeeded by Josiah Alexander Van Orsdel