John J. Blaine

For those of a similar name, see John Blain (disambiguation).

The Honorable John J. Blaine
United States Senator from Wisconsin
In office March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1933
Preceded by	Irvine Lenroot
Succeeded by	Francis R. Duffy
24th Governor of Wisconsin
In office January 3, 1921 – January 3, 1927
Lieutenant	George F. Comings Henry A. Huber
Preceded by	Emanuel L. Philipp
Succeeded by	Fred R. Zimmerman
Personal details
Born	John James Blaine (1875-05-04)May 4, 1875 Wingville, Wisconsin
Died	Boscobel, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Anna C. McSpaden Blaine
Alma mater	Valparaiso University

John James Blaine (May 4, 1875 – April 16, 1934) was an American politician and the 24th Governor of Wisconsin and a United States Senator.

Early life

Blaine was born on May 4, 1875 in Wingville, Wisconsin, the son of Elizabeth (Johnson) and James Ferguson Blaine. His father was Scottish and his mother was Norwegian. Blaine attended the common schools, and then what is now Valparaiso University in Indiana, graduating from the university's law department in 1896. After being admitted to the bar in Wisconsin, he practiced law in Montfort before moving to Boscobel.

Career

Blaine served as Vice-President of a telephone company, and as Mayor of Boscobel, Wisconsin, for two terms; 1901-1904 and 1906-1907. He was on the Grant County Board of Supervisors, and was a member of Wisconsin State Senate (16th District) from 1909 to 1912. He served as delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1912 (alternate), 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932. He was Wisconsin State Attorney General, from 1919 to 1921. He served as the twenty-fourth Governor of Wisconsin from January 3, 1921 to January 3, 1927.

In 1926, he defeated the Progressive Republican United States Senator Irvine Lenroot in the Republican primary. He won the general election with 55% of the vote against Democratic, Independent and Socialist Party candidates. Blaine served in the Senate from March 4, 1927 to March 3, 1933. He was the only senator to vote against ratification of the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which was approved 85-1. He is also the author of the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment, which had prohibited intoxicating liquors.

In 1932, John B. Chapple defeated Blaine in the Republican primary. Chapple was then defeated in the general election by F. Ryan Duffy, as part of massive Democratic victories in the national elections that year. Blaine resumed the practice of law at Boscobel, and was appointed a director of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation by President Franklin Roosevelt, and served until his death.

Death

Blaine died of pneumonia in Boscobel, Grant County, Wisconsin, on April 16, 1934 (age 58 years, 347 days). He is interred at Boscobel Cemetery, Boscobel, Wisconsin.

Family life

Son of James Ferguson Blaine (1827-1888) and Elizabeth (Johnson) Blaine (1834-1903), Blaine married Anna C. McSpaden (1875-1938) on August 23, 1904.

External links

• Obituary
• John J. Blaine at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Find A Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Emanuel L. Philipp	Governor of Wisconsin 1921–1927	Succeeded by Fred R. Zimmerman
United States Senate
Preceded by Irvine L. Lenroot	U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Wisconsin 1927 – 1933 Served alongside: Robert M. La Follette, Jr.	Succeeded by F. Ryan Duffy