Member Biography

John Cadwalader Grady 

Member

Patriot (Harrisburg),, January 22, 1889; Inquirer (Philadelphia), July 10, 1907; Who’s Who, 1905; Inquirer (Philadelphia), July 11, 1907
 

Sessions Office Position District Party
1877       7 Republican
1879-1880       7 Republican
1881-1882       7 Republican
1883-1884       7 Republican
1885-1886       7 Republican
1887-1888     President Pro Tempore 7 Republican
1889-1890     President Pro Tempore 7 Republican
1891-1892       7 Republican
1893-1894       7 Republican
1895-1896       7 Republican
1897-1898       7 Republican
1899-1900       7 Republican
1901-1902       7 Republican
1903-1904       7 Republican

COUNTIES: Philadelphia  


Biography

10/08/1847 - 03/05/1916


John Cadwalader Grady (R7) Philadelphia County, 1877-1905

Early Life: 

John Cadwalader Grady, born October 8, 1847, Eastport, Washington County, Maine; son of John O'Grady and Eliza Daggett; attended, Philadelphia public schools; bookkeeper, Gould & Company; graduated, University of Pennsylvania Law School, admitted, Pennsylvania bar, 1871; lawyer Philadelphia; 1871-1916; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1877-1905; president pro tempore, state senate, 1887-1890; Philadelphia Department of Docks, Wharves, and Ferries, 1907-1909; married Anna Clark, seven children (i) ; died, March 5, 1916, (age 69) uremic poisoning; Medico-Chirurgical College and Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, interment, Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia County, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (ii)    

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

The Medico-Chirurgical College and Hospital of Philadelphia, President, Board of Trustees.   

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 7th district, Philadelphia County, 1877-1905; president pro tempore, 1887-1890, succeeded Senator John Edgar Reyburn; Chairman, Republican Caucus in accordance of Seniority; chaired, Finance Committee, sixteen sessions, chaired, Judiciary General Committee, eight years, wrote the legislation forming the Pennsylvania Superior Court, June 24, 1895, P.L. 212, No. 128, earning the moniker “Father of the Superior Court.” (iii); wrote “Fugitive from Justice” act; member, Corporations Judiciary Special and Public Printing Committees; served, majority floor leader, 1896-1905.

Chairman, Special Committee of the Senate and House appointed to receive General U.S. Grant, returning from his tour around the world; arriving Philadelphia, December 16, 1879, where the mayor declared a holiday, mile long parade estimated 350,000 spectators along its route.

Appointed, President James A. Garfield, Surveyor, Port of Philadelphia, May 1881, declined.  

Appointed, Philadelphia Mayor John Edgar Reyburn, director, Philadelphia Department of Docks, Wharves, and Ferries, 1907 - resigned April 20, 1909.

Legacy:

Held the distinction of holding the all-time Senate seniority record at retirement, 28 years; served in Hills Capitol, Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Cobb Capitol.

Cited:  

Smull’s Legislative Hand Book, (1900) Miller, H. P.; Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1159, 1186.

  1. https://www.sprague-database.org/genealogy/familygroup.php?familyID=F169760&tree=SpragueProject

  2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119422127/john-c-grady

  3. Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, Pennsylvania) Monday March 06, 1916, Page 9