Joseph M. Terrell

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Joseph Terrell

Joseph Meriwether Terrell (born June 6, 1861 in Greenville , Meriwether County , Georgia , † November 17, 1912 in Atlanta , Georgia) was an American lawyer, senator and governor of Georgia.

Early years and political advancement

After completing elementary school, he trained to be a lawyer with the Greenville District Attorney John W. Parks. In 1882 he passed the entrance examination and was admitted to the bar. He opened a law firm in Greenville. His political career began almost simultaneously. From 1884 to 1887 he was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives . In 1890 he was elected to the State Senate. He campaigned for better education policies and fought for funds for the Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth, which later became Savannah State University . Terrell suggested funding public schools with real estate tax money. He advocated prison reform and fully supported the Railway Committee founded in 1879. Between 1892 and 1902 he was Attorney General of Georgia. In that capacity, he represented Georgia several times in the US Supreme Court and won all of his cases there.

Georgia Governor

Terrell became popular in Georgia through his successful work as Attorney General. In 1902 he was nominated for the office of governor by his Democratic Party . It was not difficult for him to win the subsequent election or re-election. His two terms in office were shaped by the progressive spirit of the time. He campaigned for reforms in the education system, the electoral system and tax law, but had to make compromises if the parliamentary majority had a conservative attitude.

Later career

After his second term ended, Terrell returned to practice as a lawyer. Politically, he supported Joseph M. Brown , whom he had appointed to the Railway Commission, and who fought a tough battle with Michael Hoke Smith for the office of governor. In November 1910 Terrell was elected to succeed the late Alexander S. Clay in the United States Senate sent. There he suffered a stroke in February 1911, but still wanted to end his tenure in the Senate. The Georgia Parliament disagreed and appointed Hoke Smith as senator. After some discussion and political controversy, Terrell resigned on July 14, 1911. This ended his political career.

He has been partially paralyzed since the stroke and his health deteriorated even more in the months that followed. He finally died on November 17, 1912. Joseph Terrell had been married to Jessie Lee Spivey since 1886.

literature

  • Josephine Mellichamp: Joseph Terrell. In: Senators From Georgia. Pp. 196-199. Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama 1976.
  • Alton DuMar Jones: The Administration of Governor Joseph M. Terrell in the Light of the Progressive Movement. In: Georgia Historical Quarterly. September 48, 1964, pp. 271-290.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Terrell, Joseph M.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Terrell, Joseph Meriwether (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH June 6, 1861
PLACE OF BIRTH Greenville , Georgia
DATE OF DEATH November 17, 1912
Place of death Atlanta , Georgia