RARE "Washington Senatort" J Hamilton Lewis Clipped Signature Mounted COA For Sale

James Hamilton Lewis (May 18, 1863 – April 9, 1939) was an American attorney andpolitician. Sometimes referred to as J. Ham Lewis or Ham Lewis, he represented Washington in the United States House ofRepresentatives, and Illinois in the United States Senate. He was the first tohold the title of Whipin the United States Senate.Born in Danville, Virginia and raised in Augusta,Georgia, Lewis attended several colleges, studied law, and attainedadmission to the bar in 1882. He moved to Washington Territory in 1885, where hebecame active in politics as a Democrat; he served in theterritorial legislature, worked with the federal commission that helpedestablish the U.S.-Canada boundary, and ran unsuccessfully for governor. Heserved in the United States House ofRepresentatives from 1897 to 1899. After service in the Spanish–American War, Lewis relocated to Chicago,Illinois.After serving as the city's corporation counsel, and running unsuccessfully forgovernor, Lewis won election to the United States Senate in 1912, and servedone term (1913-1919). He was chosen to serve as Majority Whip, and was thefirst person to hold this position. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in1918, and for governor in 1920. In 1930, he was again elected to the U.S.Senate, and served from 1931 until his death. He died in Washington,DC, and was buried in Arlington, Virginia.