Felix Hebert

Who was Felix Hebert?

Felix Hebert was a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Born near St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, he came to the United States when his parents, Edouard and Catherine Hebert, returned in 1880 and resumed their residence in the town of Coventry, Rhode Island.

He attended La Salle Academy. He was employed as a railroad freight billing clerk from 1893 to 1896 and as a private secretary from 1896 to 1898 he was deputy insurance commissioner of Rhode Island from 1898 to 1906, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1907 and commenced practice in Providence. He was justice of the district court of the fourth judicial district of Rhode Island from 1908 to 1928, trustee of the Nathanael Greene Homestead Association of Rhode Island from 1924 to 1934, and a member and secretary of the Providence County Courthouse Commission from 1925 to 1934.

Hébert was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate, unseating Democrat Peter G. Gerry by a 51% to 49% margin. He served from March 4, 1929, to January 3, 1935; he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1934, losing a rematch to Gerry, who won 57% of the vote. While in the Senate, he was Republican whip from 1933 to 1935, and chairman of the Committee on Patents. He resumed the practice of law, was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1944 to 1952, and was advisory counsel to the Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies. He died in Warwick in 1969; interment was in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Warwick.