Quay was born in Dillsburg, York County, Pennsylvania. He graduated at Jefferson College (now Washington and Jefferson College) in 1850 and was admitted to the bar in 1854. He served in various capacities in the Civil War, and in 1865-1867 was a member of the state House of Representatives, becoming secretary of the commonwealth in 1873-1878 and again in 1879-1882, recorder of Philadelphia in 1878-1879, and state treasurer in 1886-1887. He was chairman of the Republican national executive campaign committee in 1888, and was a member of the United States Senate in 1887-1899 and again in 1901-1904. For nearly twenty years he dominated the government of Pennsylvania, and also played a very prominent part in national affairs. In 1899 he was brought to trial on a charge of misappropriating state funds, and, although he was acquitted, the feeling among the reform element in his own party was so bitter against him that the legislature was deadlocked and his re-election was postponed for two years.
1833: Born Dillsburg, York County, Pennsylvania; educ. Beaver Academy.
1850: Jefferson College; law student with firm in Pitts.
He lost reelection, 1898 (charges of corruption, acquitted 1899).
He 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.
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica.
Matthew Stanley Quay[kwA] Pronunciation Key, 1833–1904, American political leader, b.
As chairman (1888) of the Republican National Committee, Quay secured large campaign contributions and played a leading role in Benjamin Harrison's presidential election.
Quay was, however, able to block the election of anyone else.
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