Herbert O'Conor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromMaryland | |
| In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1953 | |
| Preceded by | George L. P. Radcliffe |
| Succeeded by | James Glenn Beall |
| Chair of theNational Governors Association | |
| In office June 21, 1942 – June 20, 1943 | |
| Preceded by | Harold Stassen |
| Succeeded by | Leverett Saltonstall |
| 51stGovernor of Maryland | |
| In office January 11, 1939 – January 3, 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Harry Nice |
| Succeeded by | William Preston Lane Jr. |
| Attorney General of Maryland | |
| In office January 9, 1935 – January 11, 1939 | |
| Governor | Harry Nice |
| Preceded by | William Preston Lane Jr. |
| Succeeded by | William C. Walsh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Herbert Romulus O'Conor (1896-11-17)November 17, 1896 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | March 4, 1960(1960-03-04) (aged 63) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Loyola University, Maryland (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Unit | United States Naval Reserve |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Herbert Romulus O'Conor (November 17, 1896 – March 4, 1960) was an American lawyer serving as the51st Governor of Maryland from 1939 to 1947. He also served in theUnited States Senate, representing Maryland from 1947 to 1953. He was aDemocrat.[1][2]
O'Conor was born inBaltimore, Maryland to James P. A. O'Conor and Mary Ann (Galvin) O'Conor. He received hisB.A. degree fromLoyola College and graduated from theUniversity of Maryland School of Law in 1920. While in school, O'Conor was a reporter for theBaltimore Sun andBaltimore Evening Sun from 1919 to 1920. On November 24, 1920, O'Conor married Mary Eugenia Byrnes (1896–1971) and they had five children, Herbert R. Jr., Eugene F., James Patrick, Robert and Mary Patricia.
From 1921 to 1922, O'Conor served as the assistantState's Attorney of Baltimore. In 1923, he was elected State's Attorney of Baltimore City, and served there until he was elected as theAttorney General of Maryland in 1934. O'Conor also served in the National Association of Attorneys General in 1937. His secretary, Camilla Conroy, died in the burning of the luxury linerSS Morro Castle in 1934. O'Conor identified her body which was found floating face down close to the wreck site.
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O'Conor was elected as Governor of Maryland in 1938, defeating incumbentRepublican governorHarry W. Nice. In doing so, he became the firstRoman Catholic ofIrish descent to serve in that position. As governor, O'Conor created the Maryland Council of Defense during theSecond World War. He also worked towards improving the state transportation system, and worked towards the construction of new bridges over theSusquehanna andPotomac Rivers. He also worked with other states to encourage inter-state cooperation, and served in positions including the Chairman of the Governor's Conference in 1941, and the President of the Council of State Government in 1943.
Near the end ofWorld War II, O'Conor sought to improve the effects of the War and founded the Commission on Post War Reconstruction and Development. He also sought to improve the Maryland healthcare system.
O'Conor was elected to theUnited States Senate in1946, but chose not to run for re-election in 1952. In the Senate, O'Conor served as chairman of the Special Committee on Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce from May to September, 1951, during the Eighty-first Congress. After his tenure in the Senate, he continued the practice of law in Baltimore andWashington, D.C., until his death in Baltimore. He is interred inNew Cathedral Cemetery.
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| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Attorney General of Maryland 1935–1939 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Maryland 1938,1942 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromMaryland (Class 1) 1946 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Maryland 1939–1947 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theNational Governors Association 1942–1943 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | United States Senator (Class 1) from Maryland 1947–1953 Served alongside:Millard Tydings,John Butler | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
