Matthew Quay

Matthew Stanley Quay (September 30, 1833 - May 28, 1904). Immensely powerful Pennsylvania political boss; "kingmaker" (Benjamin Harrison, 1888).

• 1833: Born Dillsburg, York County, Pennsylvania; educ. Beaver Academy.
• 1850: Jefferson College; law student with firm in Pitts.
• 1851-53: Mississippi.
• 1854: Admitted to Beaver County bar.
• 1855: Beaver County, prothonotary; marries Agnes Barclay.
• 1856: Beaver County, prothonotary.
• 1859: Beaver County, prothonotary.
• 1861: 10th Pa. Reserves (Lt., Lt.-Col.).
• 1862: Governor Andrew Curtin, private sec'y.
• 1862: 134 Pa. Volunteers, commissioned, Col. (Aug.)
• 1862: Leaves 134 Pa. Volunteers (health) (7 Dec.)
• 1862: Battle of Marye's Heights (13 Dec.)
• 1864: Pa. state legislature.
• 1865: Pa. state legislature.
• 1866: Pa. state legislature.
• 1869: Founds *Beaver Radical*
• 1873-78: Pa. state secretary.
• 1878-79: City of Philadelphia, Recorder. (resigned)
• 1879-82: Pa. state secretary. (named Jan.; resiged Oct.)
• 1886-87: Pa. state treasurer.
• 1887: U.S. Senate.
• 1888: Republican National Committee, Chairman.
• 1892: U.S. Senate.
• 1897: Not reeected; term expires 1898.
• 1901: U.S. Senate
• 1904; Death.

lost reelection, 1898 (charges of corruption, acquitted 1899).

Prevented all other candidates from securing election to Senate in 1888; was appointed to vacant seat by Governor Beaver (whom he controlled) in 1901. Served in U.S. Senate from 1901 until death in 1904; buried in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.