Ovington E. Weller (1862-1947)
MSA SC 3520-2157

Biography:

Born in Reisterstown, Baltimore County, Maryland, on January 23, 1862.  Son of William F. and Wilmina (Berryman) Weller.  Attended Franklin High School, Reisterstown, graduated 1877; United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, graduated 1881 and again 1883; National Law School, Washington, D.C., LL.B., 1888.  Admitted to the bar, 1888.  Married Elizabeth Bailey, ca. 1888; one child Felton Parker.  Died in Baltimore, January 5, 1947.  Buried Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia.

Served two years in the Navy, 1881-83; honorably discharged in 1883.  Weller was one of a few persons who graduated twice from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.  A law desigend to eliminate surplus navy officers from the civl War voided many academy commissions, including Weller's.  The law provided that no academy graduate could receive his commission until a vacancy occurred; while Weller was waiting for his commission he served at sea.  Employed as a clerk in the Post Office Department, Washington, D.C., 1883-1887.  Practiced law from 1888 to 1891 in Wichita, Kansas, and from 1926 to 1947 in Baltimore.  Engaged in banking and in manufacturing.  Member of a stock brokerage firm; retired in 1901 and traveled extensively.  Chair, State Roads Commission of Maryland, 1912-1916.  Unsuccessful candidate for governor of Maryland in 1915.  Delegate-at-large, Republican National Convention, 1916, 1924, 1936.  Treasurer, Republican National Senatorial Committee, 1918-1920.  U.S. Senator, 1921-1927; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1926.  Chair, Committee on Manufactures.  Member, Republican National Committee, 1932, 1936, 1940.  Chair, Public Service Commission, 1935-1940.

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