John G. Townsend, Jr.
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| John G. Townsend, Jr. | |
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| March 4, 1929 – January 3, 1941 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. |
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| Succeeded by | James M. Tunnell |
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| January 16, 1917 – January 18, 1921 | |
| Preceded by | Charles R. Miller |
| Succeeded by | William D. Denney |
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| Born | May 31, 1871 Worcester County, Maryland |
| Died | April 10, 1964 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Residence | Selbyville, Delaware |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jennie Collins |
| Profession | businessman |
| Religion | Methodist |
John Gillis Townsend, Jr. (May 31, 1871 – April 10, 1964) was an American businessman and politician from Selbyville, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party, who served as Governor of Delaware and two terms as U. S. Senator from Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Townsend was born May 31, 1871 at Bishopville, in Worcester County, Maryland, son of John Gillis, Sr. & Mariedith Dukes Townsend. He married Jennie Collins, and they had seven children, John G. III, Jennie Thelma, Paul, Julia, Preston Coleman, Edith, and Lyla. His wife was killed in an automobile accident while he was Governor. They were members of the Methodist Church.
[edit] Professional career
When the railroad first came through Bishopville, Townsend learned telegraphy and was hired by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Soon he realized the need for railroad ties, set up a saw mill to make them, and began selling them. In 1896 he moved his family to Selbyville, Delaware, where he began growing strawberries. Before long he was known as the "Strawberry King." To better manage his business he set up his own bank, the Baltimore Trust Company, at the time the second largest bank in the state. Moving into poultry, corn and soybeans, by the time of his death, Townsend, Inc. grew into one of the largest, most diversified agricultural businesses in Delaware. He continued his businesses after entering politics, and returned to their management when he was not in office.
[edit] Governor of Delaware
Townsend was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives and served one term during the 1903/04 session as a member of the Addicks, or Union Republican, faction of the Republican Party. He was elected Governor of Delaware in 1916 by defeating Democrat James H. Hughes, a lawyer from Dover, Delaware. He served one term from January 16, 1917 to January 18, 1921.
[edit] United States Senator
Townsend was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1928, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. and was reelected to in 1932, defeating former Democratic U.S. Representative Wilbur L. Adams. Townsend lost his bid for a third term in 1940 to Democrat James M. Tunnell, a lawyer from Georgetown, Delaware. In all, Townsend served two terms from March 4, 1929 to January 3, 1941.
In the 72nd Congress he was Chairman of the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses. He was also a member of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission in 1939 and 1940.
[edit] Death and legacy
Townsend died April 10, 1964, age 92, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is buried at the Red Men Cemetery, Selbyville, Delaware. At the time of his death, he was the earliest Governor of any State still living.
"Townsend's administration was one of progressiveness and reform...all the major reforms of the 19th century came to maturity during this time: woman suffrage, new and better highways, prohibition, school reform, etc..." [1]
| Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | President pro tempore |
House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
| 1917-1918 | 99th | Republican | John A. Barnard | Democratic | Hervey P. Hall | ||||||
| 1919-1920 | 100th | Republican | Isaac D. Short | Republican | Alexander P. Corbit | ||||||
[edit] Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. Members of the Delaware General Assembly take office the second Tuesday of January. State Representatives have a two year term. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term. U.S. Senators took office March 4th until 1935, when they began taking office January 3rd, and have a six year term.
| Public Offices | ||||||
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| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Term began | Term ended | notes |
| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | 1902 | January 13, 1903 | January 10, 1905 | |
| Governor | Executive | Dover | 1916 | January 16, 1917 | January 18, 1921 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | 1928 | March 4, 1929 | January 3, 1935 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | 1934 | January 3, 1935 | January 3, 1941 | |
| Delaware General Assembly service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | Assembly | Chamber | Majority | Governor | Committees | District |
| 1903-1904 | 92nd | State House | Republican | John Hunn | Sussex 7th | |
| United States Congress service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | President | Committees | Class/District |
| 1929-1931 | 71st | U.S. Senate | Republican | Herbert Hoover | class 1 | |
| 1931-1933 | 72nd | U.S. Senate | Republican | Herbert Hoover | Audit and Control | class 1 |
| 1933-1935 | 73rd | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Franklin D. Roosevelt | class 1 | |
| 1935-1937 | 74th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Franklin D. Roosevelt | class 1 | |
| 1937-1939 | 75th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Franklin D. Roosevelt | class 1 | |
| 1939-1941 | 76th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Franklin D. Roosevelt | class 1 | |
| Leadership positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles S. Deneen |
Audit and Control Committee (Chairman) January 3, 1931 – January 3, 1933 |
Succeeded by James F. Byrnes |
| Election results | |||||||||||
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| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 1916 | Governor | John G. Townsend, Jr. | Republican | 26,664 | 52% | James H. Hughes | Democratic | 24,053 | 47% | ||
| 1928 | U.S. Senator | John G. Townsend, Jr. | Republican | 63,725 | 61% | Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. | Democratic | 40,828 | 39% | ||
| 1934 | U.S. Senator | John G. Townsend, Jr. | Republican | 52,829 | 53% | Wilbur L. Adams | Democratic | 45,771 | 46% | ||
| 1940 | U.S. Senator | John G. Townsend, Jr. | Republican | 63,799 | 47% | James M. Tunnell | Democratic | 68,294 | 51% | ||
[edit] Notes
- ^ Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press. , p. 358.
[edit] References
- Sobel, Robert; J. Racino (1988). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-930466-00-4.
- Carter, Richard B. (2001). Clearing New Ground, The Life of John G. Townsend, Jr.. Wilmington, Delaware: The Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-20-6.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press.
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.
[edit] Images
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [1]
[edit] External links
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [2]
- Delaware’s Governors [3]
- Find a Grave [4]
- National Governors Association [5]
- Political Graveyard [6]
[edit] Places with more information
- Historical Society of Delaware [7] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware Library [8] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965
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