Edward Hills Wason

Edward Hills Wason (September 2, 1865 – February 6, 1941) was a Republican U.S. Representative from New Hampshire who served nine consecutive terms in the United States Congress from 1915 to 1933. Over the course of his long tenure in the House of Representatives, he participated actively in the legislative process during a period marked by World War I, the postwar era, and the onset of the Great Depression, representing the interests of his New Hampshire constituents in the national legislature.

Wason was born on September 2, 1865, in New Boston, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. He spent his early years in that rural community and attended the public schools there. Demonstrating an early interest in learning and public affairs, he pursued further education beyond his hometown, preparing himself for a professional career at a time when New Hampshire was transitioning from a predominantly agricultural economy to one increasingly influenced by industry and commerce.

After completing his early schooling, Wason studied law, a common pathway for those aspiring to public service in the late nineteenth century. He was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in New Hampshire, establishing himself as an attorney and gaining experience in legal matters that would later inform his legislative work. His legal practice brought him into contact with a broad range of clients and issues, deepening his understanding of the economic and social concerns of his region.

Wason’s involvement in public life grew out of his professional and community activities, and he became identified with the Republican Party, which dominated New Hampshire politics during much of his career. His reputation as a lawyer and civic figure helped pave the way for his election to Congress. In 1914 he was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth Congress, taking office on March 4, 1915. He was subsequently reelected to eight succeeding Congresses, serving continuously until March 3, 1933. During these nine terms, he contributed to the legislative process on a wide range of issues confronting the nation, including wartime measures during World War I, postwar reconstruction and economic policy, and the early federal responses to the economic turmoil that culminated in the Great Depression.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Wason participated in debates, committee work, and the drafting and consideration of legislation, reflecting the priorities of his party and the needs of his district. He represented New Hampshire at a time when questions of federal regulation, infrastructure, veterans’ affairs, and agricultural and industrial development were central to congressional deliberations. His long service in Congress testified to the confidence his constituents placed in his judgment and his ability to advocate for their interests at the national level.

Wason’s congressional service concluded in 1933, at the end of his ninth term, as the political landscape shifted during the early years of the New Deal. After leaving Congress, he returned to private life in New Hampshire, drawing on his legal background and long experience in public affairs. He remained a respected figure in the state, associated with nearly two decades of continuous representation in Washington during some of the most consequential years of the early twentieth century.

Edward Hills Wason died on February 6, 1941. His career in the U.S. House of Representatives, spanning from 1915 to 1933, placed him among the more enduring congressional figures from New Hampshire in his era, and his service reflected both the Republican Party’s priorities and the evolving concerns of his constituents during a transformative period in American history.