Sereno E. Payne

Sereno E. Payne
House Majority Leader
In office March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1911
Speaker	David B. Henderson (1899–1903) Joseph G. Cannon (1903–1911)
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Oscar Underwood
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887
Preceded by	John H. Camp
Succeeded by	Newton W. Nutting
Constituency	26th district (1883–85) 27th district (1885–87)
In office December 2, 1889 – December 10, 1914
Preceded by	Newton W. Nutting
Succeeded by	Norman J. Gould
Constituency	27th district (1889–93) 28th district (1893–1903) 31st district (1903–13) 36th district (1913–14)
Personal details
Born	Sereno Elisha Payne June 26, 1843 Hamilton, New York, U.S.
Died	December 10, 1914(1914-12-10) (aged 71) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Fort Hill Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Gertrude Knapp ​ (m. 1873⁠–⁠1911)​
Children	1
Alma mater	University of Rochester
Profession	Law
Signature

Sereno Elisha Payne (June 26, 1843 – December 10, 1914) was a United States representative from New York and the first House Majority Leader, holding the office from 1899 to 1911. He was a Republican congressman from 1883 to 1887 and then from 1889 to his death in 1914. He was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee for 12 years starting in 1899. The Payne–Aldrich Tariff is perhaps the most significant legislation he introduced during that period. He was known as a staunch protectionist.