Edward Jeffries
Encyclopedia
Edward J. Jeffries Jr. was an American politician, councilman, and mayor of Detroit.
On April 3, 1900, the son Judge Edward J. Jeffries and Minnie Stott Jeffries. The elder Jeffries was an alderman, a police justice, and a long-serving judge on the Recorder's Court. He had run unsuccessfully for mayor multiple times, seeing himself as a representative of the underclass, and instilled in the younger Jeffries a sense of civic responsibility.
The younger Jeffries attended the Detroit Public Schools
and the University of Michigan
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Michigan in 1920 and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1923. He then continued his education at Lincoln's Inn
in London, England in 1923 and 1924, studying Roman and British common law
. After your in Europe
, Jeffries returned to Detroit to take up law practice. In 1929, he became general counsel for the Maccabees
, a position he held until his death in 1950.
In 1930, Jeffries married Florence O. Bell.
in 1932, and served on that body for four terms, from 1932-1940, serving the last two as City Council president. While serving on the Council, Jeffries came under the influence of long-time councilman John C. Lodge. Jeffries was already more moderate in stance than his radical father, eager to work within the existing power structure, and Lodge, who shared a similar outlook, was a natural ally.
In 1939, Jeffries ran for mayor of Detroit against Richard Reading
as an economically conservative, socially responsible reformer. Reading, enmeshed in an enormous corruption scandal that eventually sent him to jail, lost the election by more than two-to-one. He ran for election as mayor four more times, winning the next three to serve as mayor from 1940 to 1948. Jeffries bid for a fifth term was stymied, and he lost to councilman Eugene Van Antwerp
. Jeffries was elected once more to serve on the City Council, beginning in 1950, but died in office.
Edward Jeffries suffered a heart attack on March 18, 1950, while on vacation in Miami Beach, Florida
. He died shortly thereafter on April 2, 1950.
Early life
Edward Jeffries was born in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
On April 3, 1900, the son Judge Edward J. Jeffries and Minnie Stott Jeffries. The elder Jeffries was an alderman, a police justice, and a long-serving judge on the Recorder's Court. He had run unsuccessfully for mayor multiple times, seeing himself as a representative of the underclass, and instilled in the younger Jeffries a sense of civic responsibility.
The younger Jeffries attended the Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is about 65,971 , which is down about 9.7% from the previous school year. Detroit Public Charter Schools educate an additional 56,000...
and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Michigan in 1920 and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1923. He then continued his education at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in London, England in 1923 and 1924, studying Roman and British common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
. After your in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Jeffries returned to Detroit to take up law practice. In 1929, he became general counsel for the Maccabees
Maccabees
The Maccabees were a Jewish rebel army who took control of Judea, which had been a client state of the Seleucid Empire. They founded the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled from 164 BCE to 63 BCE, reasserting the Jewish religion, expanding the boundaries of the Land of Israel and reducing the influence...
, a position he held until his death in 1950.
In 1930, Jeffries married Florence O. Bell.
Politics
Jeffries ran for Detroit City CouncilDetroit City Council
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The City Council consists of nine members elected for a four-year term in a single election conducted on an at-large and non-partisan basis...
in 1932, and served on that body for four terms, from 1932-1940, serving the last two as City Council president. While serving on the Council, Jeffries came under the influence of long-time councilman John C. Lodge. Jeffries was already more moderate in stance than his radical father, eager to work within the existing power structure, and Lodge, who shared a similar outlook, was a natural ally.
In 1939, Jeffries ran for mayor of Detroit against Richard Reading
Richard Reading
Richard W. Reading was the mayor of Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:Richard Reading was born in Detroit on February 7, 1882, the son of Richard W. and Louise M. Reading. He was educated in the Detroit Public Schools and attended the University of Detroit.Reading married Blanche White in 1901...
as an economically conservative, socially responsible reformer. Reading, enmeshed in an enormous corruption scandal that eventually sent him to jail, lost the election by more than two-to-one. He ran for election as mayor four more times, winning the next three to serve as mayor from 1940 to 1948. Jeffries bid for a fifth term was stymied, and he lost to councilman Eugene Van Antwerp
Eugene Van Antwerp
Eugene Van Antwerp was the mayor of Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:Eugene Ignatius Van Antwerp was born on July 26, 1889, the son of Eugene C. and Cecelia Renaud Van Antwerp. He was educated in parochial schools and then at the University of Detroit and worked as an instructor in English at Gonzaga...
. Jeffries was elected once more to serve on the City Council, beginning in 1950, but died in office.
Edward Jeffries suffered a heart attack on March 18, 1950, while on vacation in Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
. He died shortly thereafter on April 2, 1950.