James M. Mead

James Michael Mead
Mead in 1937
United States Senator from New York
In office December 3, 1938 – January 3, 1947
Preceded by	Royal S. Copeland
Succeeded by	Irving M. Ives
Chair of the Federal Trade Commission
In office May 24, 1950 – March 31, 1953
Preceded by	Lowell Mason
Succeeded by	Edward F. Howrey
Member of the Federal Trade Commission
In office November 15, 1949 – September 25, 1955
Preceded by	Garland S. Ferguson
Succeeded by	William C. Kern
Chairman of the United States House Committee on Post Office and Post Roads
In office 1931–1938
Preceded by	Archie D. Sanders
Succeeded by	Milton A. Romjue
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 42nd district
In office March 4, 1919 – December 2, 1938
Preceded by	William F. Waldow
Succeeded by	Pius Schwert
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Erie County, 4th district
In office January 1, 1915 – December 31, 1918
Preceded by	Patrick W. Quigley
Succeeded by	Andrew T. Beasley
Personal details
Born	(1885-12-27)December 27, 1885 Mount Morris, New York, U.S.
Died	March 15, 1964(1964-03-15) (aged 78) Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Alice M. Dillon ​ ​ (m. 1915; died 1964)​
Children	1

James Michael Mead (December 27, 1885 – March 15, 1964) was an American politician from New York. A Democrat, among the offices in which he served was member of the Erie County Board of Supervisors (1914–1915), New York State Assembly (1915–1918), United States House of Representatives (1919–1938), and United States Senate (1938–1947).

A native of Mount Morris, New York, Mead was raised in Buffalo. He attended the public schools of Buffalo and began working for railroads at age 12. He rose through the Switchmen's Union's ranks to become president of the Buffalo local. From 1911 to 1914 he was employed as an officer with the United States Capitol Police. While working in Washington, Mead attended courses at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Mead began a political career in 1914 with election to Erie County's Board of Supervisors. He subsequently served in the state Assembly from 1915 to 1918. In 1918 he won election to the U.S. House, where he served from 1919 to 1938. In 1938 he was elected to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Royal S. Copeland. He served in the Senate until 1947. In 1946, he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for governor of New York. He was then appointed to the Federal Trade Commission, on which he served from 1949 to 1955.

In retirement, Mead was a resident of Florida. He died in Lakeland on March 15, 1964. Mead was buried at Oakhill Cemetery in Clermont, Florida.