Joseph Wellington "Jo" Byrns Sr. (July 20, 1869 – June 4, 1936) was a
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
politician. He served as a 14-term
Democratic congressman from
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
, and as the 41st
speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
Early life
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
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
. 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. The Byrns family moved to
Nashville in 1885 to pursue greater educational opportunities for their children. Jo Byrns attended
Fogg High School, graduating in 1887. He then enrolled at
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...
, where he won honors in English and history, actively participated in debates, and became a member of
Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He graduated with a law degree in 1890 and soon began building up a successful law practice.
Political career
Byrns 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
The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the U.S. state of Tennessee's state legislature, which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly.
The Tennessee Senate has the power to pass resolutions concerning essentially any issue rega ...
.
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
The United States House Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives that is responsible for passing appropriation bills along with its Senate counterpart. The bills passed by the Appropriations Commi ...
and in 1933 became
House Majority Leader
Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives, also known as floor leaders, are congresspeople who coordinate legislative initiatives and serve as the chief spokespersons for their parties on the House floor. These leaders are ele ...
. In 1935 he became
Speaker of the House
The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England.
Usage
The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...
.
Byrns suffered a serious heart attack at his Washington home on the evening of June 4, 1936. The Speaker died before he could be taken to a hospital. His funeral, attended by President
Franklin Roosevelt and other dignitaries, was held in Nashville. 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.
Freemasonry
Byrns was a
Freemason and member of the
Grand Lodge of Tennessee. He served as the Worshipful Master of West Nashville Phoenix Lodge #131 in 1906 and 1907.
See also
*
List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)
References
Legacy
Jo Byrns High School, in his hometown,
Cedar Hill, Tennessee
Cedar Hill is a city in Robertson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 301 at the 2020 census.
History
Jo Byrns, who became Speaker of the House of Representatives, was born in Cedar Hill on July 28, 1869. The local elementar ...
, is named in his honor. The local elementary school is also called "Jo Byrns Elementary School".
External links
*
Jo Byrns Elementary SchoolJo Byrns High School
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrns, Joseph W Sr
Byrns, Joseph Wellington
Byrns, Joseph Wellington
Majority leaders of the United States House of Representatives
Democratic Party members of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Byrns, Joseph Wellington
Democratic Party Tennessee state senators
People from Davidson County, Tennessee
People from Robertson County, Tennessee
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee
19th-century American politicians
20th-century American politicians
Burials at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Nashville)