Malcolm R. Patterson
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Rice Patterson (June 7, 1861–March 8, 1935) was the governor of the U.S. state
of Tennessee
from 1907 to 1911.
, Patterson was a son of Colonel Josiah Patterson
, a distinguished Confederate
cavalry
officer and a United States Representative for Tennessee, and his wife Josephine (Rice) Patterson.
Malcom Patterson graduated from the Christian Brothers College (now Christian Brothers University
) and took literature courses at Vanderbilt University
. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1883. Patterson was served as attorney general
for Shelby County
from 1894 to 1900, then elected to the Congress
. He served his father's old district, the former Tenth District, from 1901 - 1907, when he became the Democratic nominee for governor
in 1906. Patterson won the election against Republican nominee H. Clay Evans
of Chattanooga and was inaugurated in January 1907. He was the first governor to come from West Tennessee
.
During his first term, Governor Patterson married Mary Russell Gardner of Union City
. He was the second Tennessee governor to marry while in office.
In October 1908, Patterson used the State Guard to suppress a "Night Rider" vigilante movement that had arisen over disputed fishing
rights in Reelfoot Lake
in West Tennessee. Six of the "Night Riders" were tried and condemned to be hanged for murder, with two more sentenced to twenty years in prison. Patterson was widely praised for his swift and decisive action, which brought a speedy end to the violence.
In November 1908, Patterson was renominated and defeated Republican George N. Tillman of Nashville in the election. He began his second term as governor in January 1909.
During his second term, Patterson veto
ed the return of statewide Prohibition
, arguing the issue should be decided at the local level rather than by the state. In a rare instance for the era, his veto was overridden by the state legislature. However, the highlight of his second term was the passage of the Tennessee General Education Act.
Patterson initially intended to seek a third term in 1910, but there was so much political turmoil, particularly within the Democratic Party over Prohibition, that he withdrew from the campaign after having already received the nomination. He was replaced as a candidate by United States Senator
Robert Love Taylor
, who was defeated in the general election
.
Ironically, Patterson would later change his position, becoming an outspoken proponent of state Prohibition. He resumed his law practice and for the last eleven years of his life served as a Circuit Court
judge
.
He died in 1935 while on a visit to Sarasota, Florida
. Survived by his wife and three children, he was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
from 1907 to 1911.
Biography
A native of Somerville, AlabamaSomerville, Alabama
Somerville is a town in Morgan County, Alabama. It is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 347. Somerville was the county seat of Morgan County from 1818 to 1891, when the seat...
, Patterson was a son of Colonel Josiah Patterson
Josiah Patterson
Josiah Patterson was an American soldier, political figure, and a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 10th District of Tennessee.-Biography:...
, a distinguished Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
officer and a United States Representative for Tennessee, and his wife Josephine (Rice) Patterson.
Malcom Patterson graduated from the Christian Brothers College (now Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University is the oldest collegiate degree-granting institution in the city of Memphis. The university is run by the Christian Brothers, a Roman Catholic religious order founded by St. John Baptist de la Salle, the patron saint of teachers...
) and took literature courses at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. He then studied law 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 1883. Patterson was served as attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
for Shelby County
Shelby County, Tennessee
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the state's largest both in terms of population and geographic area, with a population of 927,644 at the 2010 census...
from 1894 to 1900, then elected to the Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He served his father's old district, the former Tenth District, from 1901 - 1907, when he became the Democratic nominee for governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
in 1906. Patterson won the election against Republican nominee H. Clay Evans
H. Clay Evans
Henry Clay Evans was a U.S. Representative from Tennessee.-Biography:Born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, Evans moved to Wisconsin in 1844, with his parents, who settled in Platteville, Grant County....
of Chattanooga and was inaugurated in January 1907. He was the first governor to come from West Tennessee
West Tennessee
West Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee. Of the three, it is the one that is most sharply defined geographically. Its boundaries are the Mississippi River on the west and the Tennessee River on the east...
.
During his first term, Governor Patterson married Mary Russell Gardner of Union City
Union City, Tennessee
Union City is a city in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,876 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Obion County. The name comes from its location at the union of two railroads, one running roughly east-west and the other roughly north-south...
. He was the second Tennessee governor to marry while in office.
In October 1908, Patterson used the State Guard to suppress a "Night Rider" vigilante movement that had arisen over disputed fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
rights in Reelfoot Lake
Reelfoot Lake
Reelfoot Lake is a shallow natural lake located in the northwest portion of Tennessee, United States of America. Much of it is really more of a swamp, with bayou-like ditches connecting more open bodies of water called basins, the largest of which is called Blue Basin. Reelfoot Lake is noted for...
in West Tennessee. Six of the "Night Riders" were tried and condemned to be hanged for murder, with two more sentenced to twenty years in prison. Patterson was widely praised for his swift and decisive action, which brought a speedy end to the violence.
In November 1908, Patterson was renominated and defeated Republican George N. Tillman of Nashville in the election. He began his second term as governor in January 1909.
During his second term, Patterson veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ed the return of statewide Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, arguing the issue should be decided at the local level rather than by the state. In a rare instance for the era, his veto was overridden by the state legislature. However, the highlight of his second term was the passage of the Tennessee General Education Act.
Patterson initially intended to seek a third term in 1910, but there was so much political turmoil, particularly within the Democratic Party over Prohibition, that he withdrew from the campaign after having already received the nomination. He was replaced as a candidate by United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Robert Love Taylor
Robert Love Taylor
Robert Love Taylor was a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1879 to 1881, Governor of Tennessee from 1887 to 1891 and from 1897 to 1899, and subsequently a United States Senator from that state from 1907 until his death. He is notable for winning the governor's office in an election against...
, who was defeated in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
.
Ironically, Patterson would later change his position, becoming an outspoken proponent of state Prohibition. He resumed his law practice and for the last eleven years of his life served as a Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
He died in 1935 while on a visit to Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. Survived by his wife and three children, he was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis.