Albert F. Dawson

Albert Foster Dawson
Born	Template:Birth date Spragueville, Iowa, U.S.
Died	March 9, 1949(1949-03-09) (aged 77) Near Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Politician, banker
Years active	1891–1945
Known for	U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district

Albert Foster Dawson (January 26, 1872 – March 9, 1949) served three terms as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Iowa's 2nd congressional district.

Originating from Spragueville, Iowa, Dawson completed his education in public schools before attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His early career involved newspaper publishing in Preston, Iowa between 1891 and 1892, followed by a position as city editor for the Clinton Herald from 1892 until 1894. Between 1895 and 1905, he acted as secretary to Iowa politicians Representative George M. Curtis and Senator William B. Allison, while simultaneously pursuing finance studies at George Washington University.

Dawson secured election to Congress in 1904 during President Theodore Roosevelt's successful re-election campaign, defeating incumbent Democrat Martin J. Wade in Iowa's 2nd district. He won re-election in both 1906 and 1908, holding office from March 4, 1905, through March 3, 1911. Opting not to seek a fourth term in 1910, he cited priorities involving his business interests and family.

Following his congressional service, Dawson turned down an offer to become private secretary to President William Howard Taft in 1911. Instead, he took on the role of president at the First National Bank of Davenport, Iowa, a position he held from 1911 to 1929. Subsequently, in 1930, he was appointed executive secretary of the Republican National Senatorial Committee, and later engaged as a public utility executive from 1931 until his retirement in 1945.

Dawson spent his retirement years in Highland Park, Illinois. He passed away on March 9, 1949, while aboard a train near Cincinnati, Ohio, and was interred at Preston Cemetery.

External links

• The Albert Foster Dawson Papers are maintained by the University of Iowa Special Collections & University Archives.
• Albert Foster Dawson's papers are available at the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives.