Patrick H. Drewry


Patrick Henry Drewry was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Virginia. He served in the Virginia Senate. He also represented Virginia's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1920 until his death in 1947. Drewry was a long-serving member of the House Naval Affairs Committee and was involved in naval expansion efforts during World War II.

Early life and education

Drewry was born on May 24, 1875 in Petersburg, Virginia. He was one of three surviving sons born to Dr. Emmett Arrington Drewry and his second wife, Altazera. His father was a physician who had served as a surgeon with the 9th Virginia Infantry during the American Civil War and later helped found the Medical Society of Virginia. The Drewry family was established in the region; his paternal grandfather, James Drewry, was a major landowner in Southampton County, Virginia where the town of Drewryville was named in the family's honor. His cousin, Dr. William Francis Drewry, was also active in civic life, serving as the Mayor of Petersburg and as superintendent of the Central State Hospital.
Drewry attended local public schools, including Petersburg High School, and McCabe's University School. He then pursued higher education at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, graduating in 1896. He subsequently studied law at the University of Virginia School of Law. In 1946, a year before his death, he received an honorary LL.D. degree from his alma mater, Randolph-Macon.
In 1906, Drewry married Mary Elizabeth Metcalf in Palmyra, Missouri. The couple settled in Petersburg and had three sons.

Career

After being Admission to [the bar in the United States|admitted to the bar] in 1901, Drewry began legal practice in Petersburg. He was active in the Washington Street Methodist Church, as well as the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Drewry also was director of the Petersburg Savings and American Trust Co.

Political career

A member of the Martin Organization, which evolved into the Byrd Organization, Drewry won his first election in 1911, to the Senate of Virginia, where he replaced Spanish–American War veteran Charles T. Lassiter from 1912 until 1920. An advocate for medical and charitable causes, Drewry also sponsored the state's vital statistics bill. Drewry was also a delegate to the Democratic State conventions in 1912, 1916, 1920, and 1924. In 1916, he served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention. A fiscal conservative, Drewry became chairman of the Economy and Efficiency Commission of Virginia in 1916–1918. He also accepted appointments as chairman of the State auditing committee, and as chairman of the State advisory board.
Drewry won election as a Democrat to the Sixty-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Walter A. Watson. He won reelection to the Sixty-seventh and thirteen succeeding Congresses. Thus Drewry served from April 27, 1920, until his death. He also served as member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1925 and several additional times, as ranking member of the House Naval Affairs Committee. Drewry was a member of the Democratic National Congressional Committee from 1923 to 1927, and chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1935.

Death and legacy

Drewry died in Petersburg, Virginia on December 21, 1947. Unlike his father, who had been interred in the family graveyard in Drewryville, but like his brothers who practiced in Norfolk and Martinsville and were interred in those locations, Congressman Drewry was interred in Petersburg's historic Blandford Cemetery.

Elections

  • 1920; Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed in a special election, and he won re-election with 92.6% of the vote in the general election, defeating Republican F.L. Mason
  • 1922; Re-elected with 86.2% of the vote, defeating Republican Herbert Rogers and Independent W.H. Gill
  • 1924; Re-elected unopposed
  • 1926; Re-elected unopposed
  • 1928; Re-elected unopposed
  • 1930; Re-elected unopposed
  • 1932; Re-elected as part of the Democratic ticket for Virginia's at-large congressional district; he won 8.2% in a 24-way race
  • 1934; Re-elected with 94.4% of the vote, defeating Socialist Dan Killinger and Independent Mary F. Leslie
  • 1936; Re-elected with 90.4% of the vote, defeating Republican John Martin and Socialist Killinger
  • 1938; Re-elected unopposed
  • 1940; Re-elected with 96.0% of the vote, defeating Socialist Cyrus Hotchkiss
  • 1942; Re-elected unopposed
  • 1944; Re-elected unopposed
  • 1946; Re-elected with 87.1% of the vote, defeating Republican Andrew S. Condrey