Representative William Ewart Humphrey

William Ewart Humphrey (March 31, 1862 – February 14, 1934) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a Republican Representative from Washington in the United States Congress from 1903 to 1917 and later as a member of the Federal Trade Commission from 1925 to 1933. Over seven consecutive terms in the House of Representatives, he represented first the state of Washington at large and then the First Congressional District, participating actively in the legislative process during a transformative period in American political and economic history.

Humphrey was born on March 31, 1862, near Alamo, Indiana. He spent his early years in the Midwest, where he received his initial education in local schools. Coming of age in the post–Civil War era, he was shaped by the rapid industrialization and expansion of the United States, developments that would later inform his interest in commerce, regulation, and public policy. His early life in Indiana provided him with familiarity with both rural communities and emerging centers of trade and transportation.

Humphrey pursued legal studies and was admitted to the bar, beginning his career as an attorney. He practiced law in Indiana before moving west, eventually settling in Seattle, Washington. In Seattle he established a successful legal practice and became involved in civic and political affairs as the city and region experienced rapid growth driven by timber, shipping, and trade. His professional work and public engagement brought him into close contact with business interests and local leaders, positioning him as a prominent figure in Washington’s Republican Party at the turn of the twentieth century.

Humphrey entered national politics as a member of the Republican Party and was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1902. He took office on March 4, 1903, representing Washington at large, a position he held until March 3, 1909. With the reconfiguration of congressional districts, he was subsequently elected to represent Washington’s First Congressional District, serving in that capacity from March 4, 1909, to March 3, 1917. During his seven terms in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process at a time marked by the Progressive Era’s reforms, debates over regulation of industry, and the nation’s growing role in international affairs. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in Washington State, engaging with issues affecting commerce, transportation, and the development of the Pacific Northwest.

Humphrey’s congressional service coincided with significant national developments, including the presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson, and the lead-up to American involvement in World War I. Within this context, he worked on legislation that reflected both the priorities of his party and the needs of a rapidly developing region. His experience in law and his familiarity with business and trade informed his approach to questions of federal regulation, interstate commerce, and economic policy. After choosing not to continue in the House after 1917, he returned to private life and legal practice, remaining an influential Republican voice in Washington State.

In recognition of his expertise and longstanding interest in commercial and regulatory issues, Humphrey was appointed a member of the Federal Trade Commission in 1925. He served on the Commission until 1933, a period that spanned the later years of the 1920s economic boom and the onset of the Great Depression. As an FTC commissioner, he participated in the federal government’s efforts to oversee fair competition and address unfair business practices, contributing to the development and enforcement of national trade and antitrust policy. His tenure on the Commission underscored his continued engagement with the balance between business interests and public regulation.

William Ewart Humphrey died on February 14, 1934. His career encompassed service as a lawyer, seven-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Washington, and nearly eight years as a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission. Through these roles he took part in shaping federal policy during a critical era in American economic and political development, representing his constituents while helping to define the emerging framework of national regulatory oversight.