Illinois Governor. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 26th Governor of Illinois for two terms, from January 1921 until January 1929. He entered politics in 1900 when he was elected to the state senate, serving until 1904. He was elected twice as Illinois State Treasurer, serving from 1905 to 1907 and again from 1917 to 1919. In 1920 he ran for governor and won, succeeding Frank Orren Lowden, and won a second term in 1924. He earned a reputation for corruption when, during his first term, he was indicted for embezzling over a million dollars in state funds while he was treasurer, but he was acquitted. Also, during his tenure, he pardoned or paroled over 1,000 convicted felons, including a couple of notorious Chicago gangsters. In 1928, he was defeated in the Illinois Republican Primary by Lincoln Louis Emerson. He made a failed for governor in 1932 and again in 1936. He died at the age of 73.
Illinois Governor. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 26th Governor of Illinois for two terms, from January 1921 until January 1929. He entered politics in 1900 when he was elected to the state senate, serving until 1904. He was elected twice as Illinois State Treasurer, serving from 1905 to 1907 and again from 1917 to 1919. In 1920 he ran for governor and won, succeeding Frank Orren Lowden, and won a second term in 1924. He earned a reputation for corruption when, during his first term, he was indicted for embezzling over a million dollars in state funds while he was treasurer, but he was acquitted. Also, during his tenure, he pardoned or paroled over 1,000 convicted felons, including a couple of notorious Chicago gangsters. In 1928, he was defeated in the Illinois Republican Primary by Lincoln Louis Emerson. He made a failed for governor in 1932 and again in 1936. He died at the age of 73.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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