Frederick Van Ness Bradley

Fred Bradley, U.S. Representative from Michigan

Frederick Van Ness Bradley (April 12, 1898 – May 24, 1947), commonly known as Fred Bradley, was an American politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 11th congressional district from 1939 until his death in 1947. He was a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and career[]

Bradley was born in Chicago and moved to Rogers City, Michigan, in 1910 where he attended the public schools, graduating from Rogers City High School. He attended Montclair Academy in Montclair, New Jersey and served in the Student Army Training Corps at Plattsburgh, New York, in 1918. He graduated from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, in 1921 and worked as a salesman with the Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company in Buffalo, New York from 1921 to 1923, as well as a purchasing agent from 1928 to 1938. He was also a purchasing agent with Bradley Transportation Company in Rogers City, Michigan from 1924 to 1938.

Congress[]

In 1938, Bradley defeated incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative John Luecke to be elected as a Republican from Michigan's 11th congressional district to the 76th Congress. He was subsequently reelected to the four succeeding Congresses; he served from January 3, 1939 until his death in New London, Connecticut on May 24, 1947. He had been there as a member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Coast Guard Academy. He was also chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the 80th Congress. With his longtime interest in Great Lakes shipping, he was the legislative sponsor behind the construction of the Round Island Passage Light.

Bradley was forty-nine years old when he died and is interred at Rogers City Memorial Park.

See also[]

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–1949)

References[]

• United States Congress. "Frederick Van Ness Bradley (id: B000742)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard
• Frederick Van Ness Bradley, Late a Representative from Michigan. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. 1950.