Representative Martin Wiley Littleton

Martin Wiley Littleton served as a Representative from New York in the United States Congress from 1911 to 1913. A member of the Democratic Party, Martin Wiley Littleton contributed to the legislative process during 1 term in office.

Martin Wiley Littleton’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Martin Wiley Littleton participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Martin Wiley Littleton (January 12, 1872 – December 19, 1934) was an American attorney known for his involvement in a number of high-profile trials during the early 1900s, including serving as chief defense counsel for Harry Kendall Thaw at his second trial in 1908 for the murder of renowned architect Stanford White, and defending Harry Ford Sinclair, the head of Sinclair Oil, from criminal charges resulting from the Teapot Dome scandal. Littleton also served one term as United States Representative from New York from 1911 to 1913, and was borough president of Brooklyn. Littleton initially supported himself through menial labor and was largely self-educated, never attending college or law school. He eventually became one of the richest lawyers in the world, and has been mentioned as an example of a “rags to riches” success story in motivational books and articles. He was the father of attorney Martin W. Littleton, Jr., the district attorney of Nassau County, New York who was involved in the investigation into the death of Starr Faithfull and the murder prosecutions of Everett Applegate and Mary Frances Creighton.