William Bancroft

For other people named William Bancroft, see William Bancroft (disambiguation).

William Amos Bancroft
Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts
In office January 1893 – January 1897
Preceded by	Alpheus B. Alger
Succeeded by	Alvin F. Sortwell
President of the Cambridge, Massachusetts Board of Aldermen
In office 1891–1892
Member of the Cambridge, Massachusetts Board of Aldermen
In office 1891–1892
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1883–1885
Member of the Cambridge, Massachusetts Common Council
In office 1882–1882
Personal details
Born	(1855-04-26)April 26, 1855 Groton, Massachusetts
Died	March 11, 1922(1922-03-11) (aged 66) Cambridge, Massachusetts
Spouse	Mary Shaw
Children	Hugh Bancroft, Guy Bancroft, Catherine (Bancroft) De Haviland
Alma mater	Harvard College, Harvard Law School
Occupation	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Rank	Private to colonel (Massachusetts Militia), Brigadier general (United States Volunteers)
Unit	Massachusetts Militia United States Volunteers
Commands	Company B, Fifth Massachusetts Militia Regiment, Fifth Massachusetts Militia Regiment
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War

William Amos Bancroft (April 26, 1855 – March 11, 1922) was a Massachusetts businessman, soldier and politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and on the Common Council, Board of Aldermen, and as the Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts (1893–1897). During the Spanish–American War, Bancroft was a brigadier general of United States Volunteers. From 1899 to 1916, he was the president of the Boston Elevated Railway.

Early life

Bancroft was born on April 26, 1855, in Groton, Massachusetts, to Charles Bancroft and Lydia Emeline (Spaulding) Bancroft. He attended Lawrence Academy in his hometown and Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. After graduating from Phillips Exeter, he attended Harvard College, where he enlisted in the fifth regiment of the state militia in his Freshman year. He eventually rose to the rank of brigadier general. He was a member of the Harvard crew in 1877, 1878, and 1879.

Legal career

Bancroft attended Harvard Law School and studied law in the office of William Burnham Stevens. He was admitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1881. In 1885, he opened a law office with Edward Francis Johnson, later mayor of Woburn, Massachusetts.

Railway career

In 1885, Bancroft became the superintendent of the Cambridge Railroad. When it merged with the Charles River Street Railway, he was named president. When the company was absorbed by the West End Street Railway, he was appointed roadmaster of the system. He left in 1890 to focus on law and politics. In 1896, he became legal counsel to the Boston Elevated Railway. He became the company's vice president and chairman of the board the following year. From 1899 to 1916, he was company president.

Politics

In 1890, Bancroft was elected to the Cambridge board of aldermen. In 1892, he was elected to his first of five consecutive terms as mayor.

Death

Bancroft died on March 11, 1922, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was buried in Groton Cemetery alongside his parents.

Notes

• Media related to William Amos Bancroft at Wikimedia Commons