Profile Text
Birth Name: Maria Ellen Cantwell
Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 13, 1958
Ethnicity: Irish, German, English, possibly other
Maria Cantwell is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served as a U.S. Senator from Washington, since January 3, 2001. She was previously a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington, from January 3, 1993 to January 3, 1995, Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, from January 3, 2013 to February 12, 2014, Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, from February 12, 2014 to January 3, 2015, and Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, from February 3, 2021 to January 3, 2025. While she was not a candidate, she received an electoral vote for Vice President from a faithless elector in the 2016 presidential election.
Maria is the daughter of Rose, an administrative assistant, and Paul Cantwell (Paul Francis Cantwell), a politician, who was a county commissioner, a Member of the Marion County Board, from 1966 to 1971, and a Member of the Indiana House of Representatives, from 1992 to 1994.
Maria’s paternal grandfather was Edward Michael Cantwell (the son of Edward Joseph Cantwell and Mary Ellen O’Connor). Maria’s grandfather Edward was born in Indiana. Maria’s great-grandfather Edward was born in Indianapolis, the son of Irish parents, Michael Cantwell and Bridget Moore. Mary Ellen was born in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of Teresa Farrell.
Maria’s paternal grandmother was Edythe Marie/Maria Brown (the daughter of James C. Brown and Hattie/Hettie R. Webber). Edythe was born in Indiana, and was active in Indianapolis politics. James was born in Indiana, the son of William H. Brown and Mary E. Steelman. Maria’s great-grandmother Hettie was born in Indiana, the daughter of German parents, John Henry Weber and Anna Maria Schultz.
Maria’s maternal grandfather was named John L. Easton.
Maria’s maternal grandmother was named Minta Maurer.
Sources: Genealogies of Maria Cantwell (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Obituary of Maria’s mother – https://obituaries.seattletimes.com