Patrick Henry Drewry

Patrick Henry Drewry (May 24, 1875 – December 21, 1947) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Virginia. He served in the Virginia Senate (1912–1920). He also represented Virginia's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1920 until his death in 1947. Drewry was a long-serving member of the House Naval Affairs Committee and was involved in naval expansion efforts during World War II.

Early life and education

Drewry was born on May 24, 1875 in Petersburg, Virginia. He was one of three surviving sons born to Dr. Emmett Arrington Drewry (1838–1891) and his second wife, Altazera (née Laughton). His father was a physician who had served as a surgeon with the 9th Virginia Infantry during the American Civil War and later helped found the Medical Society of Virginia. The Drewry family was established in the region; his paternal grandfather, James Drewry (1808–1878), was a major landowner in Southampton County, Virginia where the town of Drewryville was named in the family's honor. His cousin, Dr. William Francis Drewry, was also active in civic life, serving as the Mayor of Petersburg and as superintendent of the Central State Hospital. Drewry also was director of the Petersburg Savings and American Trust Co.

Political career A member of the Martin Organization, which evolved into the Byrd Organization, Drewry won his first election in 1911, to the Senate of Virginia, where he replaced Spanish–American War veteran Charles T. Lassiter (brother of Major General William Lassiter and the recently deceased Congressman Francis Rives Lassiter. Drewry represented the city of Petersburg and neighboring Dinwiddie County, and won re-election, thus serving (part-time) from 1912 until 1920. An advocate for medical and charitable causes, Drewry also sponsored the state's vital statistics bill.

Drewry won election as a Democrat to the Sixty-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Walter A. Watson. He won reelection to the Sixty-seventh and thirteen succeeding Congresses. Thus Drewry served from April 27, 1920, until his death. He also served as member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1925 and several additional times, as ranking member of the House Naval Affairs Committee. Drewry was a member of the Democratic National Congressional Committee from 1923 to 1927, and chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1935.

Death and legacy

Drewry died in Petersburg, Virginia on December 21, 1947. Unlike his father, who had been interred in the family graveyard in Drewryville, but like his brothers who practiced in Norfolk and Martinsville and were interred in those locations, Congressman Drewry was interred in Petersburg's historic Blandford Cemetery.

Elections 1920; Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed in a special election, and he won re-election with 92.6% of the vote in the general election, defeating Republican F.L. Mason 1922; Re-elected with 86.2% of the vote, defeating Republican Herbert Rogers and Independent W.H. Gill 1924; Re-elected unopposed 1926; Re-elected unopposed 1928; Re-elected unopposed 1930; Re-elected unopposed 1932; Re-elected as part of the Democratic ticket for Virginia's at-large congressional district; he won 8.2% in a 24-way race 1934; Re-elected with 94.4% of the vote, defeating Socialist Dan Killinger and Independent Mary F. Leslie 1936; Re-elected with 90.4% of the vote, defeating Republican John Martin and Socialist Killinger 1938; Re-elected unopposed 1940; Re-elected with 96.0% of the vote, defeating Socialist Cyrus Hotchkiss 1942; Re-elected unopposed 1944; Re-elected unopposed 1946; Re-elected with 87.1% of the vote, defeating Republican Andrew S. Condrey