George Merrill Wright (April 12, 1865 – January 7, 1926) was an American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts[1] from January 6, 1913[2] to January 1, 1917.[3]

George Merrill Wright
37th Mayor of
Worcester, Massachusetts
In office
January 6, 1913 – January 1, 1917
Preceded byDavid F. O'Connell
Succeeded byPehr G. Holmes
Member of the
Worcester, Massachusetts
Board of Aldermen
Member of the
Worcester, Massachusetts
Common Council
Personal details
BornApril 12, 1865
Clinton, Massachusetts
DiedJanuary 7, 1926(1926-01-07) (aged 60)
Worcester, Massachusetts
SpouseMinnie E. Searle
ChildrenGeorge Francis Wright,
Ralph Wyman Wright
Florence Marian Wright
Signature

Early life

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Wright was born to George Fletcher and Harriet Elizabeth (Wright) Wright in Clinton, Massachusetts, on April 12, 1865.[1] He married Minnie E. Searle, they had three children George Francis Wright, Ralph Wyman Wright and Florence Marian Wright.[1]

Business career

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In 1883, Wright, along with his father George F. Wright and brother Herbert N. Wright, founded the Wright Wire Company in Palmer, Massachusetts. Wright secured a number of patents on making wire and weaving wire cloth. In 1890 he opened a wire factory in Worcester. In 1919 he sold his business to the Clinton Wire Company, which became the Clinton Wright Wire Company. Wright was also involved in the real estate business and in 1910 purchased a poultry and cattle farm in Charlton, Massachusetts.[4]

Public service

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Wright elected to the Worcester Common Council in 1900 and 1901, and to the Worcester Board of Aldermen in 1902.[1] He was the Mayor of Worcester from January 6, 1913.[2] to January 1, 1917.[3] During his tenure as mayor, the city constructed a new bridge over Lake Quinsigamond and North High School and enacted a pay as you go policy.[4]

Wright was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage on January 6, 1928, and died the following day at his son's home in Worcester. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and daughter.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Cutter, William Richard (1915), New England Families Genealogical and Memorial, A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume I, New York, N.Y.: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, p. 113
  2. ^ a b Wright, George M. (1913), Inaugural Address of Hon. George M. Wright, Mayor of Worcester, Mass., January 6, 1913, Worcester, Massachusetts: Belisle Print. and Publishing Company, p. 1
  3. ^ a b Holmes, Pehr G. (1917), Inaugural Address of Honorable Pehr G. Holmes: Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts : January the First, Nineteen Seventeen, Worcester, Massachusetts: Commonwealth Press, p. 1
  4. ^ a b c "George Wright Dies Suddenly". The Boston Globe. January 8, 1926. p. 13. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
Political offices
Preceded by 37th Mayor
of
Worcester, Massachusetts

January 6, 1913–January 1, 1917
Succeeded by