Mathew Harris Ellsworth

Mathew Harris Ellsworth (September 17, 1899 – February 7, 1986) was an American newspaperman and politician who served as a Republican U.S. Representative from Oregon from 1943 to 1957. Over the course of his congressional career, he served six terms in the United States House of Representatives, and is also noted in some records as having contributed to the legislative process during seven terms in office. His years in Congress spanned a significant period in American history, encompassing World War II, the early Cold War, and the beginning of the postwar economic expansion, during which he represented the interests of his Oregon constituents in the national legislature.

Ellsworth was born on September 17, 1899. Details of his early life and family background are less extensively documented than his public career, but his formative years preceded American entry into World War I and coincided with a period of rapid social and economic change in the United States. These early experiences helped shape his later interest in public affairs and the press, leading him toward a career that combined journalism and politics.

Before entering elective office, Ellsworth established himself as a newspaperman, a profession that placed him at the intersection of public information and civic debate. His work in journalism provided him with a close view of political processes and public policy issues, and it helped build the communication skills and public profile that would later support his transition into politics. Through his newspaper career, he became familiar with the concerns of local communities in Oregon and the broader currents of state and national politics.

Ellsworth’s formal political career in elective office began at the state level. Prior to his service in the United States House of Representatives, he served briefly in the Oregon Senate, where he was a member of the 41st Oregon Legislative Assembly. His tenure there was notably short—lasting for one day—but it marked his first direct participation in legislative work and introduced him to the procedures and responsibilities of lawmaking in a representative body.

In 1943, Ellsworth entered national office as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon. A Republican, he served in Congress during a transformative era that included the final years of World War II, the transition to peacetime, and the onset of the Cold War. Over his six terms, and in the broader characterization of seven terms of legislative contribution, he participated in the democratic process by debating and voting on legislation affecting both his state and the nation. During these years, he worked to represent the interests of his constituents, address wartime and postwar issues, and engage with emerging questions of national security, economic policy, and federal administration.

After leaving Congress in 1957, Ellsworth continued his public service at the federal level. He was appointed chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission, a position that placed him at the center of federal personnel policy and the administration of the merit-based civil service system. In this role, he oversaw aspects of hiring, promotion, and standards for federal employees, contributing to the professionalization and integrity of the federal workforce during a period of governmental growth and institutional change.

Mathew Harris Ellsworth died on February 7, 1986. His career spanned journalism, state legislative service, six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1943 to 1957, and subsequent leadership as chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission. Through these roles, he participated in and helped shape the legislative and administrative life of the United States during a pivotal mid-twentieth-century period.