Matthew Quay

Matthew Stanley Quay was an American politician of the Republican Party who represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and controlled the state's Republican political machine for nearly twenty years. Prior to his political career, he served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, eventually achieving the rank of Colonel.

During the Civil War, Quay served with distinction, notably at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Despite being ravaged by typhoid fever and formally mustered out of active service just prior to the battle, he volunteered to serve as an aide-de-camp, demonstrating exceptional bravery under fire. His actions during the engagement earned him the nation's highest military decoration.

Following his military service, Quay transitioned into Pennsylvania politics, where he became one of the most powerful political bosses in United States history. He chaired the Republican National Committee, successfully managing Benjamin Harrison's 1888 presidential campaign and later playing a pivotal role in placing Theodore Roosevelt on the 1900 Republican presidential ticket.