Paul B. Johnson Sr.

Paul Burney Johnson Sr.
46th Governor of Mississippi
In office
January 16, 1940 – December 26, 1943
Lieutenant Dennis Murphree
Preceded by Hugh L. White
Succeeded by Dennis Murphree
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923
Preceded by Pat Harrison
Succeeded by T. Webber Wilson
Personal details
Born March 23, 1880
Hillsboro, Mississippi
Died December 26, 1943 (aged 63)
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Corinne Venable
Profession Lawyer

Paul Burney Johnson Sr. (March 23, 1880 – December 26, 1943) was an attorney, judge, and politician, serving as United States Representative from Mississippi, 1919–1923, and as Governor of Mississippi, 1940–1943.

Early career

From 1907 to 1908 Johnson served as a judge of the city court of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Two years later he became circuit judge of the 12th judicial district, with his tenure ending in 1919.

Congress

In 1918 Johnson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat, serving from 1919 to 1923. During this period, he developed a friendship with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of Navy, and his family. Their children played together. [1]

In 1939, Johnson won the race for Governor of Mississippi, but died in office in 1943. His son, Paul B. Johnson, Jr., was serving in the Marines in the Pacific during World War II at the time. More than 20 years later, he was elected as governor in 1964.

Paul B. Johnson State Park, a state park in Mississippi, is named after him.

References

  1. ↑ White, Theodore H. (1965), The Making of the President, 1964, New York: Atheneum, p. 218

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Pat Harrison		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 6th congressional district
1919–1923 		Succeeded by
T. Webber Wilson
Political offices
Preceded by
Hugh L. White		 Governor of Mississippi
1940–1943 		Succeeded by
Dennis Murphree