Thomas Watt Gregory

Thomas Watt Gregory
49th United States Attorney General
In office August 29, 1914 – March 4, 1919
President	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	James C. McReynolds
Succeeded by	Alexander Mitchell Palmer
Personal details
Born	November 6, 1861 Crawfordsville, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	February 26, 1933 (aged 71) New York, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Southwestern Presbyterian University
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

Thomas Watt Gregory (November 6, 1861 – February 26, 1933) was a political progressive and American attorney who served as United States Attorney General from 1914 to 1919, during President Woodrow Wilson's administration.

Gregory was born in Crawfordsville, Mississippi. He graduated from the Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tennessee) in 1881, Southwestern Presbyterian University in 1883, and he was a special student at the University of Virginia. Gregory entered the University of Texas at Austin in 1884 and graduated a year later with a degree in law.

He began the practice of law in Austin, in 1885. He served as a regent of the University of Texas for eight years. Gregory Gymnasium was named in honor of his efforts to provide an adequate exercise facility for the students and faculty of the University. He declined appointment as assistant attorney general of Texas in 1892 and an appointment to the state bench in 1896 but "gained experience as a trust prosecutor as a special counsel for the state of Texas."

While embracing the progressive rhetoric of the early 20th century with his condemnations of "plutocratic power," "predatory wealth," and "the greed of the party spoilsmen," Gregory participated in Edward M. House's Democratic coalition.

Gregory was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis and at state delegate at-large at the Baltimore convention. He was appointed Special Assistant to the US Attorney General in 1913, in the investigation and proceedings against the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company.

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