Louis Jefferson Brann (July 6, 1876 – February 3, 1948) was an American lawyer and political figure. He was the 56th Governor of Maine.
Louis Jefferson Brann | |
|---|---|
_2.jpg) From 1982's Historic Lewiston: Its Government | |
| 56th Governor of Maine | |
| In office January 4, 1933 – January 6, 1937 | |
| Preceded by | William T. Gardiner |
| Succeeded by | Lewis O. Barrows |
| Mayor of Lewiston, Maine | |
| In office 1922–1924[1] | |
| Preceded by | William H. Newell |
| Succeeded by | Robert J. Wiseman |
| In office 1915–1916[1] | |
| Preceded by | Robert J. Wiseman |
| Succeeded by | Charles P. Lemaire |
| Register of Probate for Androscoggin County, Maine | |
| In office 1909–1913 | |
| Preceded by | Fred O. Watson[2] |
| Succeeded by | James W. Murray[3] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 6, 1876 Madison, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1948 (aged 71) Falmouth, Maine, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Martha "Mattie" Cobb n(m. 1902) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Maine |
| Profession | Attorney |
Early life
editBrann was born in Madison, Maine to Charles M. Brann and Nancy Lancaster Brann.[4] He attended schools in Gardiner, Maine. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1898, after which he studied law.[4] He was admitted to the bar in 1902 and began a practice in Lewiston. In the late 1920s he formed Brann & Isaacson with Peter A. Isaacson, a law firm which is still in existence (2010).
On March 8, 1902, Brann married Martha "Mattie" Cobb.[5] They were the parents of four children—Donald L., Marjorie, Dorothy L., and Nancy E.[6]
Brann participated widely in local and state government: he was the Androscoggin County Register of Probate (1909-1913);[7] a municipal judge (1913–1915);[7] mayor of Lewiston (1915–1917 and 1922–1925);[7] member of the Maine House of Representatives (1919–1920);[7] and delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Maine (1924, 1936, 1940 and 1944).[7] He also served a term as chairman of the Maine Democratic Party.[7]
Governor of Maine
editBrann ran successfully for Governor of Maine in 1932,[7] and was also successful in his re-election bid in 1934.[7] During his administration, a constitutional amendment was sanctioned that secured two million dollars in state bonds for emergency relief during the Great Depression.[7] As part of an initiative to promote Maine tourism and economic development, Brann entertained many celebrities at Blaine House;[8] the "Maine Summer Visitors Day" program he started brought notables to Maine including Boston Braves President Emil Fuchs, authors Gladys Hasty Carroll, Kenneth Roberts and Ben Ames Williams, and singer Rudy Vallee.[8]
Later years
editBrann ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1936.[7] He also ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1938.[7] Brann ran unsuccessfully for the other Maine Senate seat in 1940.[7] In 1942, he was also an unsuccessful candidate for Maine's 1st District seat in the United States House of Representatives.[8]
Brann was a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist,[9] and held membership in Beta Theta Pi,[4] and the Knights of Pythias,[4] Elks,[4] National Grange,[9] and Lions Club.[10]
Brann died in Lewiston on February 3, 1948.[7] He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Lewiston.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Historic Lewiston: Its Government, p. 13.
- ^ Register of the Executive Department of the State of Maine (1907), p. 30.
- ^ Public Documents of the State of Maine for the Year 1912, p. 37.
- ^ a b c d e National Cyclopedia of American Biography, p. 269.
- ^ "Maine Marriage Index".
- ^ Historic Lewiston: Its Government, p. 14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Biography, Louis J. Brann".
- ^ a b c "Brann, Louis J.".
- ^ a b Who's Who In Our American Government, p. 64.
- ^ Who's Who In New England, p. 173.
Sources
editBooks
edit- Fellowship Forum (1935). Who's Who In Our American Government. The Fellowship Forum: Washington, DC.
- Kirk, geneva; Barrows, gridley (1982). Historic Lewiston: Its Government. Auburn, ME: Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute.
- Maine Executive Department (1907). Register of the Executive Department of the State of Maine. Augusta, ME: Kennebec Journal Print.
- Maine Executive Department (1914). Public Documents of the State of Maine for the Year 1912. Vol. II. Waterville, ME: Sentinel Publishing Company.
- Marquis, A. N. (1938). Who's Who In New England. Vol. 3. A. N. Marquis: Chicago, IL.
- White, James T. (1949). The National Cyclopedia of American Biography. J. T. White: Chicago, IL. p. 269.
Internet
edit- "Lewis J. Brann and Martha "Mattie" K. Cobb in the Maine Marriage Index, 1892-1996". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. March 8, 1902. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
- "Biography, Louis J. Brann". www.nga.org/. National Governors Association. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
- "Brann, Louis J." Maine: An Encyclopedia. South Harpswell, ME. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
External sources
edit- Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2
- Louis J. Brann at Find a Grave