George Henry Dern

George Henry Dern (born September 8, 1872 in Dodge County , Nebraska , † August 27, 1936 in Washington DC ) was an American politician, governor of Utah and the 54th US Secretary of War . He was a Democrat .

Career

George Dern followed his father John, a German immigrant from Hausen near Gießen , into the mining business in Utah. There he developed into one of the most influential men in the state's mining industry before being elected to the Utah Senate in 1914 . Despite being a non- Mormon and a Democrat, he was elected governor of the Mormon and Republican state of Utah . He served as governor from 1925 to 1933. His tenure included the safe ratification of the Colorado River Compact and the National Governor's Conference , where he met New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt . He supported Roosevelt's election campaign for the presidency in 1932 and was rewarded for this with the position of US Secretary of War in his cabinet .

At the age of 64, Dern died in 1936 while still serving as Minister of War. He was the grandfather of actor Bruce Dern and great-grandfather of actress Laura Dern .

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personal data
SURNAME	Dern, George Henry
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician, governor of Utah and the 54th Secretary of War
DATE OF BIRTH	September 8, 1872
PLACE OF BIRTH	Dodge County , Nebraska
DATE OF DEATH	August 27, 1936
Place of death	Washington DC