Edward I. Edwards

Edward Irving Edwards

Edward Irving Edwards (born December 1, 1863 in Jersey City , New Jersey , † January 26, 1931 ibid) was an American politician and governor of the state of New Jersey from 1920 to 1923 . He also represented his state in the US Senate between 1923 and 1929 .

Early years and political advancement

Edward Edwards attended the public schools of his home country and then studied at New York University . This was followed by a law degree with an internship in his brother's office. As a result, Edwards rose to be a successful businessman. He was involved in both banking and the railroad business. He was also involved in the construction industry. He later became a board member and chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Jersey City .

Edwards was a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1911 and 1917 he was head of the New Jersey Court of Auditors ( Comptroller ). He was then a member of the State Senate from 1918 to 1920 . On November 4, 1919, he was elected as his party's candidate for governor of his state.

politics

Governor of New Jersey

Edward Edwards began his three-year term on January 20, 1920. During his tenure, the provisions for compensation for lost work were improved in favor of employees. Governor Edwards was also an opponent of Prohibition , but in this case had to obey federal law. Since the state constitution ruled out direct re-election of the governor, Edwards decided in November 1922 to apply for a seat in the US Senate. With the help of the Democratic party leader in New Jersey, Frank Hague , he was able to beat the previous incumbent Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen of the Republican Party .

Edwards in the US Senate

On March 4, 1923, Edwards took up his mandate as a Class 1 Senator in Washington . There he completed a six-year legislative period, during which he played no noticeable role. In 1928 he ran for re-election, but was defeated by the Republican Hamilton Fish Kean , who then replaced him on March 4, 1929 in the US Congress .

Another résumé

Edwards had a difficult time after his return to New Jersey. His wife, Julie Blanche Smith, with whom he had two children, had died in 1928. Then he lost the support of party leader Hague, who turned his sympathies to A. Harry Moore . The broken in October 1929 world economic crisis brought Edwards to the brink of financial ruin. He was also embroiled in an election fraud scandal. After being diagnosed with skin cancer, Edwards shot himself on January 26, 1931 in his home in Jersey City.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 3, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Edward Edwards in the National Governors Association (English)
• Edward I. Edwards in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Edward I. Edwards in the database of Find a Grave (English)