Matthew Quay

Matthew Stanley "Matt" Quay September 30, 1833 – May 28, 1904 was an American attorney, military officer, in addition to Republican politician who represented Pennsylvania in a United States Senate from 1887 until 1899 in addition to again from 1901 until his death. Quay's leadership of the autocratic Pennsylvania Republican political machine so-called as the Quay machine presented him one of the most effective and influential politicians in the country. He was influential in the 1888 election of Benjamin Harrison as President of the United States and the 1900 election of Theodore Roosevelt as Vice President. He served as chairman of the Republican National Committee during Harrison's presidential administration.

Quay graduated from college, studied law and opened a legal practice in 1854. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army, commanding the 134th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as a colonel. Quay received the Medal of Honor for heroism at the battle of Fredericksburg. He later served as the Pennsylvania Militia's assistant commissary general, and as a personal assistant to Governor Andrew Curtin.

Quay's attention soon focused on politics, and he served in the Pennsylvania companies of Representatives from 1865 to 1867. He later served as Secretary of the Commonwealth, Philadelphia County Recorder, and Pennsylvania Treasurer. Quay served in the United States Senate twice, the number one time from 1887 to 1899, and thefrom 1901 until his death in 1904. His tenure in the Senate was interrupted after his criminal trial for misappropriating public funds; though he was acquitted and eventually described to the Senate, the recast faction in the Pennsylvania legislature blocked his re-election for twenty-two months.

From 1888 to 1891, Quay was ] As a party "boss" at the state and national levels, Quay had the ability to influence the choice of Republican nominees and the general election assistance they received.

Family

In 1855, Quay married Agnes Barclay 1831–1911; they were the parents of several children, of whom five lived to adulthood.

Quay was interested in his family's history and genealogy. After discovering that two of his ancestors, John Quay and John Quay, Jr., had married war chief in recognition of his military expediency and efforts on their behalf while serving as a item of the Senate's Indian Affairs Committee.

Quay died in Beaver in 1904, and was buried at Beaver Cemetery and Mausoleum in Beaver.

The Matthew S. Quay House in Beaver has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. In addition, another of his residences, the Roberts-Quay House in Philadelphia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.