Luren Dickinson

Luren Dudley Dickinson (April 15, 1859 – April 22, 1943) was an American politician. He served as the 37th Governor of Michigan from 1939 to 1940. He holds the record of the oldest person to ever serve as Michigan governor, at the age of 79, as well as the only Michigan governor to enter office upon the death of an incumbent.

Early life

Dickinson was born in Niagara County, New York but as an infant his family moved to Michigan. In Michigan his family purchased land and undertook farming. As a boy Dickinson spent most of his time working on the family farm but by studying often at home he was able to complete high school and at the age of eighteen qualified to be a teacher. He was impressive as a teacher and thus moved up quickly becoming first principal and then superintendent of schools at the age of 21. In 1888, he married Zora Della Cooley and they had one child.

Politics

His involvement in community schools sparked his interest in local politics. He joined the Republican Party, was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives and served from 1897 to 1898 and 1905 to 1908. He was the elected to the Michigan Senate and served from 1909 to 1910.

He served only one term in the State Senate before being elected the 35th Lieutenant Governor in 1914 & later re-elected Lieutenant Governor. He would spend most of the rest of his political career in this office being elected to it seven times and was defeated three times (1924, 1932, and 1936). He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the Republican primaries for Governor of Michigan in 1920 against Alex Groesbeck who was successful in the general election. He served with five Governors as Lieutenant; Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, 1915–17; Albert Sleeper 1917–21; Fred Green 1927–29; Wilber Marion Brucker 1929–33, and Frank Fitzgerald 1939.

Gubernatorial succession

In 1939 incumbent Governor Frank Fitzgerald died suddenly in office and thus, a month short of Dickenson's 80th birthday, he became Governor of Michigan.

As governor he spent much of his time conducting state business at his farm near Charlotte, Michigan rather than at the state capital in Lansing. He was well known for his informal appearance and actions which included having his swearing in ceremony at his farm, dressing in modest clothing and continuing to undertake farm work during his term. During his twenty one and a half months in office, a law was passed which made it mandatory for public school teachers to take an oath of loyalty to the government. Also during his term, gambling and open bars were contested and the Michigan National Guard was activated for service in World War II.

In 1940, he ran for re-election but his campaigning was hampered due to the illness and later death of his wife. He lost the election to Democrat Murray Van Wagoner.

Death

Dickinson was a member of the Grange and Knights of Pythias. He died two years after leaving office at the age of eighty-four in Charlotte and is buried at the Maple Hill Cemetery of that town.

References

• National Governors Association
• The Political Graveyard
• Find A Grave Memorial
• Former Lt. Governors of Michigan
• Biography of Dickinson