Wellington D. Rankin

Who was Wellington D. Rankin?

Wellington D. Rankin was a Republican public official from the state of Montana.

He was born Wellington Duncan Rankin on September 16, 1884 in Missoula, Montana, the son of John and Olive Rankin. He grew up in a political family, with several of his relatives holding public office. An attorney by profession, he served in the United States Army during World War I. He was elected Montana Attorney General in 1920 and was reelected in 1924. In 1926, he was appointed U.S. Attorney for the state of Montana, a position he held until 1928, when he ran unsuccessfully for Governor. He returned to practicing law until 1942, when he ran for the U.S. Senate against liberal incumbent Democrat James Edward Murray. He lost to Murray by a vote of 83,673 to 82,461, but never sought elective office again.

During his lifetime, he was overshadowed by his older sister, Jeannette Rankin, who was elected U.S. Representative in 1916 and 1940, voting against U.S entry into both World War I and World War II. Her vote against the United States entering World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor was highly unpopular and contributed to Wellington's loss to Murray in 1942.