Representative Oscar Lapham

Oscar Lapham (June 29, 1837 – March 29, 1926) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from the state of Rhode Island who served in the Rhode Island Senate and represented Rhode Island in the United States House of Representatives from 1891 to 1895. Over the course of two terms in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents.

Lapham was born in Burrillville, Rhode Island, to Duty Lapham and Lucinda (Wheelock) Lapham. He received his early education at several New England institutions, attending Smithville Seminary in Scituate, Rhode Island, Pembroke Academy in Pembroke, New Hampshire, and the University Grammar School in Providence, Rhode Island. He entered Brown University and graduated in 1864. While at Brown, he distinguished himself academically and socially, becoming a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

During the American Civil War, Lapham served in the Union Army with the Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers. He rose through the ranks, holding the positions of first lieutenant, adjutant, and captain. His wartime service earned him recognition among his peers, and after the war he was elected as a companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, an organization composed of Union officers and their descendants. Following his military service, Lapham studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1867, and commenced the practice of law in Providence, Rhode Island.

Lapham’s political career in Rhode Island began in earnest in the 1880s. He was elected to the Rhode Island Senate, serving in 1887 and 1888, where he became chairman of the Judiciary Committee, a position that reflected his legal expertise and growing influence in state affairs. At the same time, he played a significant role in party organization as treasurer of the Rhode Island Democratic Committee from 1887 to 1891. He sought national office several times, running unsuccessfully for election to the Forty-eighth, Fiftieth, and Fifty-first Congresses before finally securing a seat.

A member of the Democratic Party, Lapham was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat to the Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses, serving from March 4, 1891, to March 3, 1895. His service in Congress coincided with a transformative era in American political and economic life, and he took part in the legislative deliberations of the House of Representatives during debates over issues such as tariffs, monetary policy, and industrial regulation. Throughout his two terms, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of Rhode Island constituents at the federal level. In 1894 he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Fifty-fourth Congress, which ended his tenure in the national legislature.

After leaving Congress, Lapham returned to Providence and resumed the practice of law, continuing a legal career that had been interrupted by his years in public office. He remained active in civic and educational affairs, serving on the board of trustees and on the executive committee of Brown University, his alma mater. In addition, he was a member of the Providence Board of Trade, reflecting his engagement with the commercial and economic development of the city and state.

In his personal life, Lapham married Claira L. Paine on June 20, 1876. The couple had one child, a daughter named Annie, who died in infancy. Lapham lived in Providence during his later years, maintaining his professional and civic interests well into old age. He died in Providence on March 29, 1926, and was interred in Swan Point Cemetery in that city.