John S. McKiernan

Infobox Governor
name=John Sammon McKiernan


order=62^nd
office=Governor of Rhode Island
term_start=December 19, 1950
term_end=January 2, 1951
lieutenant="None"
predecessor=John O. Pastore
successor=Dennis J. Roberts
birth_date=October 15, 1911
birth_place=Providence, Rhode Island
death_date=January 1, 1997 (aged 85)
death_place=
party=Democrat
spouse=Elizabeth St. Pierre
profession=Lawyer
religion=Catholic
order2=
office2= Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
term_start2= 1947
term_end2= 1950
1951 - 1956
governor2= John O. Pastore (1st time)
Dennis J. Roberts (2nd time)
predecessor2= John O. Pastore (1st time)
None - himself before vacant
successor2= Vacant
Armand H. Cote (2nd time)

John Sammon McKiernan (October 15, 1911 - January 1, 1997) was the United States Democratic politician, who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1947–1950 and 1951-1956 and briefly the Governor of Rhode Island (1950-1951).

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, McKiernan graduated from the Notre Dame University in 1934 and from Boston University in Law School in 1937. After this, he went to run his own law practice. He also served as legal advisor to the Providence Civil Service Commission and as a chairman of the Providence Fair Rents Committee in 1941.

In 1942 and 1943 he served as the first Assistant City Solicitor for Providence. After a break caused by his service in the US Navy be retook this post.

He was elected the Lieutenant Governor in 1946 and held this post from 1947 to 1950. The Governor at this time was John O. Pastore, a fellow Democrat.

As Lieutenant Governor and presiding officer of the state Senate in 1949, McKiernan cast the tie-breaking vote that resulted in the adoption of new rules effectively giving Democrats control of the Senate’s legislative committees for the first time in more than decade.

After Pastore left office earlier in order to became a United States Senator, McKiernan became Governor and served from December 19, 1950 to January 2, 1951. He didn't seek election for Governor only for his old post and became Lieutenant Governor again under administration of another Democrat, Dennis J. Roberts.

He resigned as Lieutenant Governor in 1956 to accept appointment as an Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court.

A catholic, he was married to Elizabeth St. Pierre.

External links

[http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=47b8c0e87984b010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD NGA Official biography]