Nathan B. Scott

Nathan Bay Scott
Born	Template:Birth date Near Quaker City, Ohio, U.S.
Died	January 2, 1924(1924-01-02) (aged 81) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation(s)	Politician, banker, businessman
Years active	1859–1924
Known for	United States Senator from West Virginia, Commissioner of Internal Revenue

Nathan Bay Scott (December 18, 1842 – January 2, 1924) was a senator representing West Virginia in the United States Congress.

Biography

Scott was born close to Quaker City, Ohio, and received his early education in local public schools. Between 1859 and 1862, he was employed in the mining industry near Colorado Springs. His military service during the Civil War spanned from 1863 to 1865 in the Union Army, where he attained the rank of regimental commissary sergeant. Following the conflict, he ventured into glass manufacturing and banking enterprises based in Wheeling, West Virginia. He held the position of president of Wheeling’s city council from 1881 until 1883 and subsequently served as a member of the West Virginia Senate between 1883 and 1890. In 1888, Scott became a member of the Republican National Committee.

In 1898, President William McKinley appointed him as Commissioner of Internal Revenue, a post he held until early 1899 when he resigned to take office as a United States Senator. Elected as a Republican in 1899 and reelected in 1905, Scott’s senatorial tenure lasted until 1911, at which point he was unsuccessful in obtaining renomination. During his time in the Senate, he chaired the Committee on Mines and Mining during the 57th through 59th Congresses and served on the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds from the 59th to the 61st Congresses. In 1911, he was named to the Lincoln Memorial Commission and later pursued banking activities in Washington, D.C.

In 1918, an incident at a nearby Army chemical weapons installation exposed Scott and his family to lewisite gas. His swift actions reduced potential injuries and prompted an official inquiry.

Scott passed away in Washington on January 2, 1924. His cremated remains were placed at Rock Creek Cemetery.