Leon R. Taylor

Leon R. Taylor, between 1910 and 1915

Leon Rutherford Taylor (born October 26, 1883 in Asbury Park , New Jersey , †  April 1, 1924 in Denver , Colorado ) was an American politician and acting governor of the state of New Jersey from 1913 to 1914 .

Career

Leon Taylor attended Denison University in Ohio . After completing a law degree, he began working as a lawyer in New Jersey. He became a member of the Democratic Party . Then he became a member of the New Jersey General Assembly ; in 1913 he succeeded Thomas F. McCran as its president. Since March 1913 then governor was James Fairman Fielder in office of the the US president elected Woodrow Wilson had replaced. Fielder sought re-election in November 1913. This was constitutionally only possible if he was not governor of the state at the time of the election because direct re-election was forbidden under the state constitution. Therefore, Fielder resigned on October 28, 1913, and Taylor had to take over the office of governor as President of the House of Representatives. After Fielder was re-elected in November, Taylor gave him back the office on January 20, 1914 according to the constitution. He was governor of New Jersey for almost three months.

After that, Taylor withdrew from politics. He continued to work as a lawyer and was involved with the Red Cross, of which he was regional director between 1917 and 1919. Leon Taylor died in Denver on April 1, 1924.

Web links

• Leon Taylor in the National Governors Association (English)