Jo Byrns
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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 Civil War. 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. 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
. He was awarded the 1935-36 "Amazing Eyebrows" Cup by The New York Times
.
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.
, near Adams, Tennessee
in his native Robertson County, is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician. He served as a 14-term Democratic Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Biography
Byrns was born in Cedar HillCedar Hill, Tennessee
Cedar Hill is a city in Robertson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 298 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cedar Hill is located at ....
, 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 Civil War. A graduate of public schools, he displayed a strong early interest in politics and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
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
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
but was defeated — his only unsuccessful political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
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
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
from 1928 to 1935. 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
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
. He was awarded the 1935-36 "Amazing Eyebrows" Cup by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
Byrns was Speaker when he died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and had been planning to run for reelection. His funeral, attended by President Roosevelt and other dignitaries, was held in the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
. He was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery (Nashville)
Mount Olivet Cemetery is a 250-acre cemetery located in Nashville, Tennessee.Mount Olivet has been continuously operated since its establishment in 1856. It serves as the final resting place for many of Middle Tennessee's political and business leaders, including several former governors of...
in Nashville. His son Jo Byrns, Jr.
Jo Byrns, Jr.
Joseph Wellington Byrns, Jr. was an attorney and one-term Member of Congress from Tennessee. He was the son of former House Speaker Jo Byrns and Julia Woodard.-Biography:...
later served a single term in the House but never achieved the popularity of Jo, Sr.
Byrns was also an active Civitan.
Legacy
Jo Byrns High SchoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, near Adams, Tennessee
Adams, Tennessee
Adams is a city in Robertson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 633 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally incorporated as Red River in 1869, the town was renamed Adams in 1898 in honor of James Reuben Adams, who first owned much of the land on which the town was built. The town's...
in his native Robertson County, is named in his honor.