William P. Connery Jr.

William P. Connery Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th district
In office March 4, 1923 – June 15, 1937
Preceded by	Robert S. Maloney
Succeeded by	Lawrence J. Connery
Personal details
Born	August 24, 1888 Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	June 15, 1937(1937-06-15) (aged 48) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Parent	William P. Connery Jr.
Alma mater	College of the Holy Cross
Profession	Actor, theater manager
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	U.S. Army
Rank	Private
Unit	First Regiment, United States Infantry
Battles/wars	World War I France

William Patrick Connery Jr. (August 24, 1888 – June 15, 1937) was a United States representative from Massachusetts. He was born in Lynn on August 24, 1888, the son of William P. Connery Sr. and brother of Lawrence Joseph Connery.

Biography

Connery attended St. Mary's School at Lynn, Collège de Montréal in Canada, and the College of the Holy Cross. He entered the theatrical profession as an actor. He also was a theater manager. During World War I he enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and First Regiment, United States Infantry, and served nineteen months in France. He was an electric company employee, he engaged in the manufacture of candy, and was secretary to the mayor of Lynn.

He was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-eighth and to the seven succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1923, until his death. He served as chairman of the Committee on Labor Seventy-second through Seventy-fifth Congresses, where he was the House sponsor of the first version of H.R. 7200, the Fair Labor Standards Act— alternatively called the Wagner—Connery Act, written by U.S. Senator Robert F. Wagner—, which became law in a later iteration following his death, when it was signed by President Roosevelt on June 25, 1938. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar but did not practice extensively.

Connery had returned by train from a speaking tour in Massachusetts when he was stricken by food poisoning after returning to his home in Washington, D.C.. Experiencing acute abdominal pains, he was taken to the National Homeopathic Hospital. His condition worsened and did not respond to treatment, and Connery died at the age of 48, only 11 hours after he had been admitted.

, on June 15, 1937. His interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery in Lynn.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

External links

• Media related to William P. Connery Jr. at Wikimedia Commons
• United States Congress. "William P. Connery Jr. (id: C000694)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.