John M. Gearin
Encyclopedia
John McDermeid Gearin was an American politician and attorney from the state of Oregon
. A native of the eastern portion of the state, he represented Portland
on the western side of the state in the Oregon House of Representatives
. Originally an independent politician, he later became a Democrat and lost an election to serve in the United States Congress
before winning appointment to the Senate in 1905. He also was Portland's city attorney and a district attorney.
in Eastern Oregon
. His parents, John and Ellen Burns Gearin, were from Ireland
. After attending the local public schools, Gearin enrolled at St. Mary's College
in San Francisco, attending from 1863 to 1867. In 1871, he graduated with a bachelor of laws degree from Notre Dame University. In 1873, he was admitted to the Oregon bar
after studying law, and then entered private legal practice in Portland
. On June 28, 1878, Gearin married Matilda Raleigh and they had three children together.
and served in the 1874 legislative session. Gearin was elected as an independent to represent District 43 in Multnomah County
. The next year he was city attorney
of Portland. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1878 to the Forty-sixth Congress, and was district attorney
for Multnomah County from 1884 to 1886.
Gearin was appointed by U.S. President Grover Cleveland
in 1893 as special prosecutor
for the government concerning cases of opium
fraud. He was then appointed to the United States Senate
by Oregon Governor George Earle Chamberlain
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of sitting Senator John H. Mitchell
in 1905. Gearin served from December 13, 1905, until January 23, 1907, and was not a candidate for election in 1907 to fill the vacancy.
. He had been a member of the Knights of Columbus
.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of the eastern portion of the state, he represented Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
on the western side of the state in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
. Originally an independent politician, he later became a Democrat and lost an election to serve in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
before winning appointment to the Senate in 1905. He also was Portland's city attorney and a district attorney.
Early life
John Gearin was born on August 15, 1851, near PendletonPendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
in Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
. His parents, John and Ellen Burns Gearin, were from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. After attending the local public schools, Gearin enrolled at St. Mary's College
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
in San Francisco, attending from 1863 to 1867. In 1871, he graduated with a bachelor of laws degree from Notre Dame University. In 1873, he was admitted to the Oregon bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
after studying law, and then entered private legal practice in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. On June 28, 1878, Gearin married Matilda Raleigh and they had three children together.
Political career
In 1874, he was elected to the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
and served in the 1874 legislative session. Gearin was elected as an independent to represent District 43 in Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
. The next year he was city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
of Portland. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1878 to the Forty-sixth Congress, and was district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Multnomah County from 1884 to 1886.
Gearin was appointed by U.S. President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
in 1893 as special prosecutor
Special prosecutor
A special prosecutor generally is a lawyer from outside the government appointed by an attorney general or, in the United States, by Congress to investigate a government official for misconduct while in office. A reasoning for such an appointment is that the governmental branch or agency may have...
for the government concerning cases of opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
fraud. He was then appointed to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
by Oregon Governor George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain was an American politician, legislator, and public official in Oregon. A native of Mississippi and trained lawyer, he served as the 11th Governor of Oregon, a representative in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, a United States Senator.-Early life:Chamberlain was born near...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of sitting Senator John H. Mitchell
John H. Mitchell
John Hipple Mitchell, also known as John Mitchell Hipple, John H. Mitchell, or J. H. Mitchell was a controversial American lawyer and politician, who served as a Republican United States Senator from Oregon on three occasions between 1872 and 1905...
in 1905. Gearin served from December 13, 1905, until January 23, 1907, and was not a candidate for election in 1907 to fill the vacancy.
Later years
After leaving the Senate he returned to his law practice in Portland. John Gearin died on November 12, 1930, at the age of 79 in Portland. He was buried in that city at the Mount Calvary CemeteryMount Calvary Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
Mount Calvary Cemetery in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon, United States is a private cemetery owned and maintained by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. It is the second-oldest Catholic cemetery in Multnomah County, and was the third cemetery built in the West...
. He had been a member of the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
.