John S. Battle

John S. Battle (1949)

John Stewart Battle (born July 11, 1890 in New Bern , North Carolina , † April 9, 1972 ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Virginia from 1950 to 1954 .

Early years and political advancement

John Battle attended Mars Hill College and Wake Forest College in North Carolina. He then studied law at the University of Virginia Law School. After his admission to the bar, he began working in his new profession in Charlottesville . During the First World War he was a soldier in the US Army .

John Battle was a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1930 and 1934 he was a member of the Virginia House of Representatives and from 1934 to 1950 he was a member of the State Senate . Between 1948 and 1968, with one exception in 1964, he was a delegate to the respective Democratic National Conventions .

Governor of Virginia

In 1949, Battle was elected the new governor of his state. He began his four-year term on January 18, 1950. The governor campaigned for social reforms and an improvement of the school system as well as better hospitals. In the school sector, teachers' salaries were increased. The Korean War that broke out during his tenure led to the revival of the Defense Council. In 1952, Battle settled a dispute at the party convention in Chicago . At that time, the delegates from Virginia refused to take an oath of loyalty to the presidential candidate to be elected. With a speech, Battle was able to prevent a split in the party.

Another résumé

After the end of his governorship on January 11, 1954 Battle was again working as a lawyer in a law firm. In 1956 he was under discussion as a Democratic presidential candidate. The nomination then went to Adlai Stevenson . In 1959, he was appointed to the Civil Rights Commission by President Dwight D. Eisenhower . John Battle died in April 1972. He was buried in Monticello , the former home of Thomas Jefferson .

literature

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

Web links

• John S. Battle in the National Governors Association (English)
• John S. Battle in the database of Find a Grave (English)