Jo Byrns

Joseph Wellington "Jo" Byrns Sr. (July 20, 1869 – June 4, 1936) was a U.S. politician. He served as a 14-term Democratic Congressman from Tennessee, and as the 41st Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

For his son, see Joseph W. Byrns Jr.
Jo Byrns
41st Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 1935 – June 4, 1936
Preceded byHenry Thomas Rainey
Succeeded byWilliam B. Bankhead
Leader of the House Democratic Caucus
In office
January 3, 1935 – June 4, 1936
Preceded byHenry Thomas Rainey
Succeeded byWilliam B. Bankhead
House Majority Leader
In office
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935
Preceded byHenry Thomas Rainey
Succeeded byWilliam B. Bankhead
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee
In office
March 4, 1909 – June 4, 1936
Preceded byJohn W. Gaines (6th)
Ewin L. Davis (5th)
Succeeded byClarence W. Turner (6th)
Richard Merrill Atkinson (5th)
Constituency6th district (1909–33)
5th district (1933–36)
Member of the Tennessee Senate
In office
1901-1903
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1895-1901
Personal details
Born
Joseph Wellington Byrns

(1869-07-20)July 20, 1869
Cedar Hill, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJune 4, 1936(1936-06-04) (aged 66)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materVanderbilt University
ProfessionLaw

Biography

Byrns was born in Cedar Hill, Robertson County, Tennessee, son of James Henry Byrns and Mary Emily Jackson. He was named for a maternal uncle, Joseph William Green Jackson, who died in the American Civil War. His great-grandfather, James Byrns, Esq., figures in the legend of The Bell Witch, and is mentioned in the Authenticated History of The Bell Witch by Martin Van Buren Ingram. A graduate of public schools, he displayed a strong early interest in politics and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1894 and reelected in 1896 and 1898. In 1900 he was elected to the Tennessee State Senate.

In 1902, he ran for district attorney of Davidson County, Tennessee, but was defeated — his only unsuccessful political race in 18 efforts. In 1908, Byrns received the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative and was elected in November of that year to a term beginning March 4, 1909. He served in the House for the rest of his life.

Byrns was widely respected and his influence grew as his seniority did. He was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 1928 to 1935.[1] In 1931 he was appointed chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and in 1933 became House Majority Leader. In 1935 he became Speaker of the House.

Byrns was Speaker when he died in Washington, D.C., and had been planning to run for reelection. His funeral, attended by President Roosevelt and other dignitaries, was held in the United States Capitol. He was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville. His son Jo Byrns Jr. later served a single term in the House but never achieved the popularity of Jo Sr.

Byrns was also an active Civitan.[2]

See also
  • List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

References
  1. Irish, Ann B. (2001). Joseph W. Byrns of Tennessee: a political biography. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. pp. 220. ISBN 1-57233-131-3.
  2. Leonhart, James Chancellor (1962). The Fabulous Octogenarian. Baltimore Maryland: Redwood House, Inc. p. 277.

Legacy

Jo Byrns High School, in his hometown, Cedar Hill, Tennessee, is named in his honor. The local elementary school is also called "Jo Byrns Elementary School".

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John W. Gaines		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 6th congressional district
1909–1933		 Succeeded by
Clarence W. Turner
Preceded by
Ewin L. Davis		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 5th congressional district
1933–1936		 Succeeded by
Richard Merrill Atkinson
Political offices
Preceded by
William R. Wood		 Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee
1931–1933		 Succeeded by
James P. Buchanan
Preceded by
Henry T. Rainey		 House Majority Leader
House Democratic Leader
1933–1935		 Succeeded by
William B. Bankhead
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
January 3, 1935 – June 4, 1936
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