Earl L. Brewer

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Earl L. Brewer
Born August 11, 1869
Carroll County, Mississippi
Died March 10, 1942
Office Governor of Mississippi
Term 1912 – 1916
Predecessor Edmond Noel
Successor Theodore G. Bilbo
Political party Democrat

Earl L. Brewer (August 11, 1869 - March 10, 1942) was the Governor of Mississippi from 1912 to 1916. Elected as a Democrat, he was unopposed in the primary and won the governorship without ever making a single public campaign speech.

Brewer was born in Carroll County, Mississippi. His father, Radcliff Rodney Brewer, had been a farmer, plantation manager and overseer, and a captain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Brewer attended the University of Mississippi and after less than one year of study, obtained a Bachelor of Law degree in 1892. He immediately began practicing law and then was elected to the Mississippi Senate in 1895. In 1902 he was appointed district attorney for the 11th District.

In 1907 he resigned his position as district attorney to run for governor. Brewer was narrowly defeated in his first attempt but won handily in the next campaign. As governor, Brewer promoted progressive reforms in several areas. The constitution was changed to create an elective judiciary; banking laws were established to limit interest rates; and a Bureau of Vital Statistics was created.

During his term there was a severe epidemic of pellagra in the state and other portions of the South. When the federal government sent Joseph Goldberger to study the disease and find a cure, Brewer offered full pardons to convicts who would participate in Goldberger's experiments. As a result of these studies, it was determined that pellagra was caused by a vitamin deficiency.

After his term was over, Brewer assisted in the defense of three African-American defendants accused of murder who had been convicted on the basis of coerced confessions. Brewer argued and won their appeal to the United States Supreme Court in Brown v. Mississippi.

Preceded by
Edmond Noel
Governor of Mississippi
1912-1916
Succeeded by
Theodore G. Bilbo

[edit] References


Persondata
NAME Brewer, Earl L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Governor of Mississippi
DATE OF BIRTH August 11, 1869
PLACE OF BIRTH Carroll County, Mississippi
DATE OF DEATH March 10, 1942
PLACE OF DEATH