Claude A. Swanson
The Honorable Claude Augustus Swanson | |
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45th United States Secretary of the Navy | |
In office March 5, 1933 – July 7, 1939 | |
President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
Preceded by | Charles F. Adams III |
Succeeded by | Charles Edison |
United States Senator from Virginia | |
In office August 1, 1910 – March 4, 1933 | |
Preceded by | John W. Daniel |
Succeeded by | Harry F. Byrd |
45th Governor of Virginia | |
In office February 1, 1906 – February 10, 1910 | |
Lieutenant | James Taylor Ellyson |
Preceded by | Andrew J. Montague |
Succeeded by | William Hodges Mann |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th district | |
In office March 4, 1893 – January 30, 1906 | |
Preceded by | Posey G. Lester |
Succeeded by | Edward W. Saunders |
Personal details | |
Born |
Swansonville, Virginia, U.S. | March 31, 1862
Died |
July 7, 1939 77) Rapidan Camp, Virginia, U.S. | (aged
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Deane Lyons |
Alma mater |
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College Randolph-Macon College University of Virginia |
Profession | Politician, Lawyer, Teacher |
Claude Augustus Swanson (March 31, 1862 – July 7, 1939) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Virginia.
He served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1893 until 1906, was the 45th Governor of Virginia from 1906 until 1910, and represented Virginia as a United States Senator from 1910 until 1933. Swanson lived most of his life at his estate Eldon in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, built by the Whittle family for whom Chatham's Whittle Street is named.[1]
He was Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 until his death in 1939, at Herbert Hoover's Rapidan Camp (which was then available for use by the Roosevelt Administration) at age 77.
Electoral history
- 1892; Swanson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 53.91% of the vote, defeating Populist Benjamin T. Jones.
- 1894; Swanson was re-elected with 52.34% of the vote, defeating Republican G.W.Cornett, Independent G.W. Hale, and Populist W.T. Shelton.
- 1896; Swanson was re-elected with 50.98% of the vote, defeating Republican John Robert Brown.
- 1898; Swanson was re-elected with 57.02% of the vote, defeating Republican Edmund Parr, Populist R.A. Bennett, Independent Republican R.O. Martin, and Independent C.T. Seay
- 1900; Swanson was re-elected with 58.14% of the vote, defeating Republican John R. Whitehead.
- 1902; Swanson was re-elected with 60.8% of the vote, defeating Republican Beverly A. Davis and Populist Dan Dickerson.
- 1904; Swanson was re-elected with 64.98% of the vote, defeating Republican J.B. Stovall.
- 1905; Swanson was elected Governor of Virginia with 64.51% of the vote, defeating Republican Lewis L. Lunsford and Socialist Labor B.D. Downey.
Memorials
The Swanson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia is named for him.
USS Swanson (DD-443) is named for him.
Short-lived Swanson County, Oklahoma, was also named for him, while he was still alive.
References
Further reading
- Claude A. Swanson of Virginia: A Political Biography, Henry C. Ferrell Jr., The University Press of Kentucky, 1985
External links
Media related to Claude A. Swanson at Wikimedia Commons
- Claude A. Swanson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2009-05-16
- "Claude A. Swanson". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- A Guide to the Executive Papers of Governor Claude A. Swanson, 1902-1913 (bulk 1906-1909) at The Library of Virginia
United States House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by Posey G. Lester |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th congressional district March 4, 1893 – January 30, 1906 |
Succeeded by Edward W. Saunders |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Andrew J. Montague |
Governor of Virginia February 1, 1906 – February 10, 1910 |
Succeeded by William H. Mann |
United States Senate | ||
Preceded by John W. Daniel |
U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Virginia August 1, 1910 – March 4, 1933 Served alongside: Thomas S. Martin, E. Carter Glass |
Succeeded by Harry F. Byrd |
Government offices | ||
Preceded by Charles F. Adams III |
United States Secretary of the Navy March 6, 1933 – July 7, 1939 |
Succeeded by Frank Knox |
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