John S. McKiernan

John S. McKiernan

John Sammon McKiernan (born October 15, 1911 in Providence , Rhode Island , † March 9, 1997 in Warwick , Rhode Island) was an American politician and governor of the state of Rhode Island from 1950 to 1951 .

Early years

John McKiernan attended the University of Notre Dame until 1934 and then studied law at Boston University until 1937 . After being admitted to the bar, he began working in this profession. He became legal advisor to the Civil Service Commission . Between 1942 and 1943 he was an associate attorney in Providence. In the meantime he served as a soldier in the US Army during World War II .

Political career

John McKiernan was a member of the Democratic Party . In 1946 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island. In this capacity he was also President of the State Senate . In this body in 1949 he gave the decisive vote on a bill that gave the Democrats back control of the Senate committees for the first time in over ten years. After Governor John O. Pastore resigned from office to take his seat in the US Senate , McKiernan had to end his remaining term as governor as the latter's deputy. In this case, that was about two weeks between December 19, 1950 and January 2, 1951. McKiernan did not run for the office of governor himself. Instead, he was re-elected lieutenant governor several times. He held this office from 1951 to 1956. He resigned that year because he was appointed a Superior Court Judge.

Family and death

John McKiernan was married to Elizabeth St. Pierre. He died in Warwick on March 9, 1997.

Web links

• John S. McKiernan in nndb (English)
• John McKiernan in the National Governors Association (English)
• The Political Graveyard (English)