Representative Daniel Joseph Griffin

Daniel Joseph Griffin (March 26, 1880 – December 11, 1926) was an American lawyer, Democratic politician, and United States Representative from New York who served in Congress during the early twentieth century. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented his New York constituency in the U.S. House of Representatives during a significant period in American history, contributing to the legislative process over multiple terms in office.

Griffin was born on March 26, 1880, and came of age as the United States was undergoing rapid industrialization and urban growth, developments that were especially pronounced in New York. Details of his early family life and upbringing are not extensively documented in the public record, but his subsequent professional path indicates that he pursued a formal education that prepared him for the practice of law and for public service. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and established himself as a practicing attorney in New York, entering a profession that frequently served as a springboard into political life in the state.

By the early 1910s, Griffin had become active in Democratic Party politics in New York. As a lawyer and Democratic politician, he aligned himself with the party’s positions during the Progressive Era, a time when questions of economic regulation, labor rights, and political reform were central to public debate. His legal background informed his approach to public affairs and helped position him as a viable candidate for national office.

Griffin was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from New York and served as a Representative in the United States Congress from 1913 to 1919. He is recorded as having been a U.S. Representative from 1913 through 1917, and his service encompassed three terms in office, reflecting the confidence of his constituents in his representation. During these years, he participated in the democratic process at the federal level, taking part in debates and votes on legislation that affected both his district and the nation. His tenure coincided with the administration of President Woodrow Wilson and with major national developments, including the lead-up to and early years of World War I, when Congress addressed issues of preparedness, economic policy, and America’s evolving role on the world stage.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Daniel Joseph Griffin represented the interests of his New York constituents while contributing to the broader legislative agenda of the Democratic Party. Although the detailed record of his committee assignments and specific legislative initiatives is limited in surviving summaries, his repeated election and continued service through three terms indicate an active engagement with the concerns of his district and participation in the formulation of national policy during a transformative era.

After leaving Congress, Griffin returned to private life and to his profession as a lawyer in New York. He remained identified with the Democratic Party and with the legal and civic affairs of his community. His post-congressional years were spent in the context of the post–World War I period, when the United States was adjusting to social and economic changes brought about by the war and by ongoing domestic reform movements.

Daniel Joseph Griffin died on December 11, 1926. His career as a lawyer and Democratic politician from New York, and his service as a U.S. Representative from 1913 through 1917, placed him among the cohort of early twentieth-century legislators who helped guide the nation through a period of significant political and social change.