John Q. Tilson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| House Majority Leader | |
| In office March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1931 | |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Longworth |
| Succeeded by | Henry Thomas Rainey |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromConnecticut's3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1915 – December 3, 1932 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas L. Reilly |
| Succeeded by | Francis T. Maloney |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromConnecticut'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | George L. Lilley |
| Succeeded by | District eliminated |
| Member of theConnecticut House of Representatives | |
| In office 1904-1908 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Quillin Tilson (1866-04-05)April 5, 1866 Clearbranch,Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | August 14, 1958(1958-08-14) (aged 92) New London,New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relatives | Whitney Tilson (great-grandson) |
John Quillin Tilson (April 5, 1866 – August 14, 1958) was anAmerican politician. In 1898, he served as amajor in theUnited States Volunteer Infantry in theSpanish–American War. ARepublican, he representedConnecticut in theUnited States House of Representatives for almost 22 years, and wasHouse Majority leader for 6 years.
Tilson was born in Clearbranch,Unicoi County, Tennessee, on April 5, 1866, to William and Katherine (Sams) Tilson. His father had obtained a grant of 900 acres in the Clearbranch community.[1] He spent his early life on the family farm.[2]
He attended both public and private schools in nearbyFlag Pond, and later atMars Hill,North Carolina.[3] He went to college atCarson–Newman College, inJefferson City, Tennessee, where he graduated in 1891. Later he enrolled atYale Law School, where he graduated in 1893.[4] He was admitted to the bar in 1897, and started to practice law inNew Haven,Connecticut.[3]
In 1898, when theSpanish–American War broke out, he enlisted and served as amajor in the Sixth Regiment,United States Volunteer Infantry .[5][6]
In 1904, Tilson was elected to theConnecticut House of Representatives, where he served until 1908, the last two years as speaker.[7]
He was later elected toUnited States House of Representatives, serving from 1909 to 1913; he ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1912. Tilson ran for election again and was again reelected to the House of Representatives. He served from March 4, 1915, until his resignation on December 3, 1932.[3] He was theMajority Leader for the69th Congress,70th Congress, and the71st Congress. He became adelegate to theRepublican National Convention in 1932.[3]
Speaking of the 1917Balfour Declaration, he said: "I am in thorough accord with the official accord of Secretary Balfour, as endorsed by the countries of France and Italy, on the subject of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and I shall gladly support a movement in that direction.... To whose care should it be more appropriately entrusted than the descendants of those who made such wonderful history there? Jewish history subsequent to the dispersion from Palestine makes it all the more certain that if restored to those who made its forebears earlier history glorious, it will be faithfully kept and sacredly guarded for the benefit of all mankind."[8]
After his retirement from public life, Tilson returned to the practice of law inWashington D.C., and then inNew Haven, Connecticut. He also served as a special lecturer atYale University onparliamentary law and procedure, and wroteTilson's Manual.[9]
Americanhedge fund manager and philanthropistWhitney Tilson is his great-grandson.[10]
Tilson died inNew London, New Hampshire, on August 14, 1958. He is interred at the private burial grounds on the family farm inClearbranch, Tennessee.[3]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromConnecticut's at-large congressional district March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1913 | Succeeded by None, At-large seat eliminated |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromConnecticut's 3rd congressional district March 4, 1915 – December 3, 1932 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives 1925–1931 | Succeeded by |
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