William Preston Lane, Jr.

Infobox Politician
name = William Preston Lane, Jr.


caption = William Preston Lane on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge shortly after its completion in 1952
birth_date = birth date|1892|5|12|mf=y
birth_place = Hagerstown, Maryland
residence = Hagerstown, Maryland
death_date = death date and age|1967|2|7|1892|5|12|mf=y
death_place = Hagerstown, Maryland
order = 52^nd
office = Governor of Maryland
salary =
term = 1947-1951
predecessor = Herbert R. O'Conor
successor = Theodore R. McKeldin
party = Democrat
religion = Episcopalian
spouse = Dorothy Byron
children = Dorothy (Lane) Campbell, and Jean (Lane) Goddard
website =
footnotes =

William Preston Lane, Jr. (May 12, 1892 - February 7, 1967), a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 52^nd Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1947 to 1951.

William Preston Lane, born in Hagerstown, Maryland, was a direct descendant of several Maryland pioneer families. He attended public school in Hagerstown before graduating from the University of Virginia in 1915 with a law degree, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. After being admitted to the Bar, Lane began practicing law in his hometown. He joined the 115th Infantry during the First World War and fought in France at the rank of captain. Lane married Dorothy Byron in 1922 and had two daughters, Dorothy and Jean.

Lane was elected Attorney General of Maryland in 1930, during which time he sought prosecution for a lynching on the Maryland Eastern Shore. He lost considerable political support on the Eastern Shore for doing so.

In 1946, Lane defeated challenger Theodore R. McKeldin for governor 54% to 45%. As governor, Lane and his administration worked towards improving public education and improving the mental health system of the state. He also set into motion major highway improvements which resulted in a large increase in the state sales tax. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which now carries his name, was completed in 1952 under this plan.

His unpopular sales tax increase contributed to Lane's re-election defeat in 1951. His challenger was the same from the previous election, Theodore McKeldin, who defeated him 57% to 42%—the largest margin of defeat in Maryland history at that time.

After his term as governor, Lane remained active in the Democratic party and engaged in business pursuits. He died unexpectedly in 1967, and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Building dedications

*William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge (more commonly known as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge). [http://www.mdta.state.md.us/mdta/servlet/dispatchServlet?url=/TollFacilities/BayBridge.jsp]
*Lane Building (demolished in 2006) on the campus of Springfield State Hospital Center, Sykesville, Maryland.

References

* [http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/actions.DisplayEADDoc.do?source=/MdU.ead.histms.0095.xml&style=ead William Preston Lane Papers at the University of Maryland Libraries]
*William Preston Lane Jr. biography. December 9, 1998. Maryland State Archives. Accessed October 25, 2004. [http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/stagser/s1259/121/7044/html/msa01483.html]
*Frank F. White, Jr., The Governors of Maryland 1777-1970 (Annapolis: The Hall of Records Commission, 1970), 279-283.