Richard W. Parker

Richard Wayne Parker (August 6, 1848 – November 28, 1923) was an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey who represented the 6th congressional district from 1895 to 1903, the 7th district from 1903 to 1911, and the 9th district from 1914 to 1919 and again from 1921 to 1923. He was a son of Cortlandt Parker (1818–1907) and grandson of James Parker, also a representative from New Jersey.

Biography Born in Morristown, he graduated from Princeton College in 1867 and from Columbia Law School in 1869. He also earned an M.A. from Princeton in 1870, and the same year he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey and commenced practice in Newark.

Early political career He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1885 and 1886 and was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Fifty-third Congress.

Congress Parker was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and to the seven succeeding Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1911. Gordon's sister, Juliette Gordon Low, founded the Girls Scouts of the USA in 1912.

Death and burial Parker died in Paris, France, on November 28, 1923, after an operation for peritonitis. He was interred in St. Peter's Churchyard in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.