This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2008) |
Thomas Ellsworth Martin (January 18, 1893 – June 27, 1971) was an American politician who served as a United States Representative (1939–1955) and Senator (1955–1961) from Iowa. A Republican, he served in Congress for 22 consecutive years.
Thomas Ellsworth Martin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Iowa | |
| In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1961 | |
| Preceded by | Guy Gillette |
| Succeeded by | Jack Miller |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Edward C. Eicher |
| Succeeded by | Fred Schwengel |
| Mayor of Iowa City | |
| In office 1935–1937 | |
| Preceded by | John Carroll |
| Succeeded by | Myron Walker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 18, 1893 Melrose, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | June 27, 1971 (aged 78) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Resting place | Willamette National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | University of Iowa Columbia University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Unit | U.S. 35th Infantry |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Biography
editBorn in Melrose, Iowa, Martin attended the public schools and graduated from the State University of Iowa (in 1916) and from its College of Law (in 1927). He received his LL.M. from Columbia Law School in 1928 and was a sales analyst and accountant for a rubber company in Akron, Ohio, and Dallas, Texas, in 1916 and 1917. During the First World War he served as a first lieutenant with the Thirty-fifth Infantry, United States Army, from 1917 to 1919. After the war, he continued work in the rubber industry, then became an assistant professor of military science and tactics at the University of Iowa from 1921 to 1923. He was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1927 and commenced practice in Iowa City, of which he served as city solicitor from 1933 to 1935 and mayor from 1935 to 1937.
In 1938, Martin was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Iowa's 1st congressional district. He was re-elected to the House seven consecutive times, serving from January 3, 1939, to January 3, 1955.
In 1954, instead of running again for the House, Martin ran for the U.S. Senate. He defeated incumbent Senator Guy Gillette of the Democratic Party, who was then completing his second full term in the Senate. For the first time since 1924, both of Iowa's senators, and all of its representatives, were Republicans. Martin served from January 3, 1955, to January 3, 1961. Martin voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960.[1][2][3] He retired after one term, moving to Seattle, Washington, where he died in June 1971.
References
edit- ^ "Senate – August 7, 1957" (PDF). Congressional Record. 103 (10). U.S. Government Printing Office: 13900. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ "Senate – August 29, 1957" (PDF). Congressional Record. 103 (12). U.S. Government Printing Office: 16478. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ "Senate – April 8, 1960" (PDF). Congressional Record. 106 (6). U.S. Government Printing Office: 7810–7811. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Thomas E. Martin (id: M000199)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.