Jacob Thorkelson

Thorkelson, 1921

Jacob Thorkelson (born September 24, 1876 in Egersund , Norway , † November 20, 1945 in Butte , Montana ) was an American politician . Between 1939 and 1941 he represented the state of Montana in the US House of Representatives .

Early years

Jacob Thorkelson attended schools in his Norwegian homeland and came to the United States in 1892. There he studied nautical science. From 1896 he was active in shipping. Between 1897 and 1899 he was a member of the Maritime Reserve of the Virginia National Guard . From 1900 to 1907 he was an officer on board ocean ships. He then studied at the University of Maryland, Baltimore medicine . At this university he was also a member of the medical faculty from 1911 to 1913.

Further career

In 1913, Jacob Thorkelson moved to Dillon , Beaverhead County , Montana. After further moves within Montana, he came to Butte in 1920. Thorkelson worked as a doctor and surgeon in Montana. From 1936 to 1939 he was also a member of the US Navy Reserve . Thorkelson was a member of the Republican Party . In 1938 he was elected as their candidate to succeed Jerry J. O'Connell in the US House of Representatives. There he completed the legislative period between January 3, 1939 and January 3, 1941. For the next congressional elections, Thorkelson was no longer nominated by his party. Instead, the nomination went to Jeannette Rankin .

After leaving the US Congress , Thorkelson returned to work as a doctor. In 1942 he ran for a seat in the US Senate , and in 1944 he ran for the office of governor of Montana. Both candidacies were unsuccessful. Jacob Thorkelson died in Butte in November 1945.

Web links

• Jacob Thorkelson in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Jacob Thorkelson in the database of Find a Grave (English)