Representative Richard Olney

Richard Olney (January 5, 1871 – January 15, 1939) was an American politician, wool merchant, and public servant who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1915 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Massachusetts in Congress during three terms and later held several significant state and federal appointments.

Early Life and Career

Olney was born in Milton, Stafford County, New Hampshire, on January 5, 1871. He attended local public schools and Leicester Academy before enrolling at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, from which he graduated in 1892. After completing his education, Olney entered the wool trade, establishing himself as a wool merchant in Massachusetts.

His involvement in public affairs began at the local level. In 1902, he served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and as chairman of the selectmen of Leicester. He made his first bid for statewide office in 1903, running unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. In 1911, he was appointed a member of the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission, indicating his interest in labor and economic policy. He was also selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore in 1912.

Congressional Career

Olney was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fourth Congress in 1914 and was re-elected to the Sixty-fifth and Sixty-sixth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1915, to March 3, 1921. During his three terms in the House, he represented Massachusetts during a period that included American entry into World War I and the subsequent debates over the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1920 to the Sixty-seventh Congress.

Later Career and Legacy

After leaving Congress, Olney continued his work in public service. In February 1923, he was appointed a member of the World War Foreign Debt Commission and was reappointed by President Calvin Coolidge in 1925, where he helped manage the complex financial settlements arising from World War I debts. From 1932 to 1937, he served as chairman of the Massachusetts State Parole Board, and from 1938 until his death he was chairman of the State Commission of the Necessaries of Life.

Olney died in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 15, 1939, at the age of 68. He was interred in Cherry Valley Cemetery in Leicester, Massachusetts.