James M. Tunnell

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = James M. Tunnell
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = U.S. Senator from Delaware
term_start = January 3 1941
term_end = January 3 1947
predecessor = John G. Townsend, Jr.
successor = John J. Williams
birth_date = birth date|1879|8|2|mf=y
birth_place = Clarksville, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1957|11|14|1879|8|2
death_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
spouse = Sarah Ethel Dukes
party = Democratic
residence = Georgetown, Delaware
alma_mater = Franklin College
occupation = educator, banker
profession = lawyer
religion =

James Miller Tunnell (August 2 1879 – November 14 1957) was an American teacher, lawyer and politician from Georgetown, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Early life and family

Tunnell was born August 2 1879 in Clarkville, near Millville, Delaware. He attended the public schools and graduated in 1900 from Franklin College, now combined with Muskingum College at New Concord, Ohio.

Professional and political career

Tunnell taught in the public schools, eventually becoming principal of the schools at Frankford, Selbyville and Ocean View, Delaware. Meanwhile he studied the law, was admitted to the bar in 1907 and began a practice in Georgetown, Delaware. He was president of the Georgetown Board of Education from 1919 until 1932. Tunnell was also a banker and owned and operated a number of farms in Sussex County, Delaware.

Tunnel first ran for a seat in the United States Senate in 1924, but was defeated by Republican T. Coleman du Pont, a former Senator. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1940, this time defeating the incumbent Republican Senator John G. Townsend, Jr.. During this term, he served with the Democratic majority in the 77th, 78th, and 79th Congress. He was chairman of the Committee on Pensions in the 78th and 79th Congress. Tunnel lost his bid for a second term in 1946 to Republican John J. Williams, a businessman from Millsboro, Delaware. He served from January 3 1941, to January 3 1947, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.

Death and legacy

Tunnell died November 14 1957 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is buried in the Blackwater Church Cemetery, near Clarksville, Sussex County, Delaware.

Public offices

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Senators take office January 3rd, and have six year terms.