Jonathan Bourne
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Bourne, Jr. was an American politician, attorney, and businessman serving as United States Senator from Oregon
. A native of Massachusetts
, he moved to Portland, Oregon
, where he became a lawyer and an industrialist with holdings in mining, mills, and agriculture. A Republican
, he also served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives
.
. He was educated at private schools before enrolling at Harvard University
where he attended from 1875 to 1877. Bourne then sailed for Asia where his ship wrecked off of the island of what was then called Formosa
in 1877. After rescue, he arrived in Portland, Oregon
, in 1878. He studied law there and was admitted to the bar
in 1881, and then practiced in Portland from 1881 to 1886. An industrialist, he had interests in mining, farming, cotton mills, and commercial enterprises. Bourne was married three times.
from 1885 to 1886, representing Multnomah County
. He returned to the House in 1897, representing District 37 and Multnomah County as a Republican, and only served during the regular session that failed to organize that year.
In 1906, he was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate, becoming one of the first two Senators to be elected under Oregon's direct primary law
, in which Senators were selected by popular vote, and then were officially elected to the position by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
to comply with Article One of the U.S. Constitution. (In 1914, the 17th Amendment
established direct election of Senators.) He served from March 4, 1907, to March 4, 1913.
While in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Fisheries (Sixtieth
and Sixty-first
Congresses) and a member of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads (Sixty-second Congress). He was the author of the Parcel Post Act while there and advocated for the adoption of the initiative and referendum system.
In 1908, he was a leader in the group that attempted to have Teddy Roosevelt run for a second term as the U.S. President. Bourne was not renominated to his Senate seat in 1912 by the Republican Party, but chose to run again under the "Popular Government" banner, coming in third. He also advocated for the direct primary system for political offices.
until his death. Jonathan Bourne died in the District of Columbia on September 1, 1940, at the age of 85. He was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Maryland
. Earlier in his life he owned large mining interests in the northeast part of Oregon
, where the town of Bourne
bore his name.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, he moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where he became a lawyer and an industrialist with holdings in mining, mills, and agriculture. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he also served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
.
Early life
Jonathan Bourne was born on February 23, 1855, in New Bedford, MassachusettsNew Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
. He was educated at private schools before enrolling at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he attended from 1875 to 1877. Bourne then sailed for Asia where his ship wrecked off of the island of what was then called Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
in 1877. After rescue, he arrived in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, in 1878. He studied law there and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1881, and then practiced in Portland from 1881 to 1886. An industrialist, he had interests in mining, farming, cotton mills, and commercial enterprises. Bourne was married three times.
Political career
Bourne was a member of the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
from 1885 to 1886, representing Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
. He returned to the House in 1897, representing District 37 and Multnomah County as a Republican, and only served during the regular session that failed to organize that year.
In 1906, he was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate, becoming one of the first two Senators to be elected under Oregon's direct primary law
Direct Legislation League
The Oregon Direct Legislation League was an organization of political activists founded by William S. U'Ren in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1898. U'Ren had been politically activated by reading the influential 1893 book Direct Legislation Through the Initiative and Referendum, and the group's...
, in which Senators were selected by popular vote, and then were officially elected to the position by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
to comply with Article One of the U.S. Constitution. (In 1914, the 17th Amendment
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures...
established direct election of Senators.) He served from March 4, 1907, to March 4, 1913.
While in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Fisheries (Sixtieth
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
and Sixty-first
61st United States Congress
The Sixty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911, during the first two years of...
Congresses) and a member of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads (Sixty-second Congress). He was the author of the Parcel Post Act while there and advocated for the adoption of the initiative and referendum system.
In 1908, he was a leader in the group that attempted to have Teddy Roosevelt run for a second term as the U.S. President. Bourne was not renominated to his Senate seat in 1912 by the Republican Party, but chose to run again under the "Popular Government" banner, coming in third. He also advocated for the direct primary system for political offices.
Later life and legacy
Bourne served as president of the National Republican Progressive League, and after leaving Congress resumed his former pursuits in Oregon and Massachusetts. He then worked in the newspaper business 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....
until his death. Jonathan Bourne died in the District of Columbia on September 1, 1940, at the age of 85. He was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Earlier in his life he owned large mining interests in the northeast part of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, where the town of Bourne
Bourne, Oregon
Bourne is an unincorporated community in Baker County, Oregon, United States about seven miles north of Sumpter in the Blue Mountains. It lies on Cracker Creek and is within the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest...
bore his name.