Morgan Foster Larson

Morgan Foster Larson (born June 15, 1882 in Perth Amboy , New Jersey ; † March 21, 1961 ibid) was an American politician who was governor of the state of New Jersey from 1929 to 1932 .

Early years and political advancement

Morgan Larson attended the public schools of his home country and then until 1910 the Cooper Union College in New York City . There he studied engineering, among other things. After completing his studies, he worked as an architect for several New Jersey municipalities. With the rise of the automobile, new perspectives also opened up for Larson. He mainly worked on three major bridges that connected New Jersey with New York City and Staten Island .

Morgan Larson became a member of the Republican Party . Between 1922 and 1928 he was a member of the New Jersey Senate , where he was its president in 1926. On November 6, 1928 he was elected the new governor of his state and thus the successor to A. Harry Moore .

Governor of New Jersey

Larson began his three-year term on January 15, 1929. Although his party had a majority in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, Larson ran into great difficulties because many Republicans disagreed with his staffing policy when it came to filling public office and therefore partially blocked his administration. With his New York counterpart Franklin D. Roosevelt , Larson signed a contract to build the Lincoln Tunnel , which was to connect Manhattan with Weehawken . At that time, a port administration for the residents of the Delaware River was established.

In the further course of his tenure, New Jersey was also hit by the global economic crisis that began in October 1929 . A sharp rise in unemployment was also recorded in New Jersey. Like President Herbert C. Hoover , Governor Larson had no recipe for dealing effectively with the crisis. Since a constitutional clause prevented him from running directly in 1931, he resigned on January 19, 1932. With Harry Moore, his predecessor also became his successor.

Another résumé

After his tenure ended, Larson was hired by the New York City Port Authority. The ex-governor himself suffered the financial consequences of the economic crisis. Between 1945 and 1948, Larson was the New Jersey government's environmental officer. Then he was until 1961 advisor to a government committee that dealt with the handling and supply of drinking water. Morgan Larson died in March 1961. He was married twice with a total of two children.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 3, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Morgan Larson in the National Governors Association (English)
• Morgan Foster Larson in the database of Find a Grave (English)