Weeks, Sinclair, 1893-1972
Biography
Sinclair Weeks was born on June 15, 1893 in West Newton, Massachusetts to John Wingate Weeks and his wife Martha A. Weeks. He graduated from Harvard University in 1914. After graduation he went to work for the First National Bank of Boston. He interrupted his work at the bank to serve with the Massachusetts National Guard in Mexico and as lieutenant and captain in the 101 FA 26th Division in France during World War I. After the war he returned to the bank until 1923, after which he entered the manufacturing business by joining United-Carr Fastener Corporation and Reed & Barton Corporation. He remained involved with both companies throughout his life.
Weeks began his political career in 1914, as a member of the Republican Ward Committee. From 1923-1936 he was Alderman and Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts. He was the treasurer of the Republican National Committee from 1941-1944 and chairman of the Republican National Finance Committee from 1949-1952. In 1944, Weeks was appointed by Leverett Saltonstall to the United States Senate to succeed Henry Cabot Lodge. He became Secretary of Commerce in President Eisenhower's Cabinet in 1953, a position he held until his retirement in 1958.
In 1959, Weeks became a member of the Business Advisory Council for the Department of Commerce, as well as Honorary Vice President of the National Association of Manufacturers. He also served on the boards of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, the West Point Manufacturing Company, Deaconess Hospital, Fessenden School, Society of the Cincinnati, William D. Weeks Memorial Library and the Beatrice D. Weeks Memorial Hospital. In addition, Weeks was a member of the Board of Overseers of the Amos Tuck School of Business and a member of Harvard College's Visiting Committee to the Department of Economics, as well as a limited partner in the firm Hornblower & Weeks. Weeks died on February 7, 1972.