Allan Langdon McDermott

McDermott was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, on March 30, 1854, to a Scottish family.[1] He attended the local schools, and was trained as a printer.[2] He worked as a newspaper reporter for several years, and then began to study law with Leon Abbett.[3] He graduated from the law department of University of the City of New York (now New York University School of Law).[4] He was admitted to the bar in November 1877, and commenced practice in Jersey City, New Jersey.[5]

McDermott was corporation attorney for Jersey City from 1879-1883.[6] He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1880 and 1881,[7] and served as a district court judge from 1883 to 1886.[8] He was the president of the Jersey City Board of Finance and Taxation from 1883 to 1886.[9] He was a member of the State Board of Taxation from 1884 to 1886, chairman of the New Jersey State Democratic Committee from 1885 to 1895, and a member of the commission to revise the constitution of New Jersey in 1894.[10] He was a candidate of the Democratic legislative caucus for United States Senator in 1895 and 1902.[11] He was a delegate at large to the Democratic National Convention in 1896.[12] He was a member of the New Jersey Senate in 1899 and 1900.[13]

He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William D. Daly.[14] He was reelected to the Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth, and Fifty-ninth Congresses and served from December 3, 1900, to March 3, 1907. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1906.[15]

McDermott died in Jersey City on October 26, 1908,[16] and is buried in Hoboken Cemetery, North Bergen, New Jersey.[17]

McDermott was married to Margaret O'Neill. They were the parents of a son, Walter, and a daughter, actress Aline McDermott.[18]

• United States Congress. "Allan Langdon McDermott (id: M000403)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.