John W. Gwynne
Encyclopedia
John Williams Gwynne was a seven-term Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 3rd congressional district
, and a Federal Trade Commission
member and chairman during the Eisenhower Administration.
and Iowa County, Iowa
, Gwynne attended public schools. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law
at Iowa City, Iowa, in 1914, and was admitted to the bar
the same year. He then commenced practice in Waterloo, Iowa
and also engaged in agricultural pursuits.
During the First World War, Gwynne served as a second lieutenant in the 313th Trench Mortar Battery of the United States Army
's 88th Infantry Division, from 1917 to 1919.
He later served as a judge of the municipal court of Waterloo from 1920 to 1926, and as County Attorney of Black Hawk County, Iowa
from 1929 to 1934.
. Willford's election in 1932, as part of the Roosevelt landslide, was only the third time that Iowa's 3rd congressional district had elected a Democrat. Gwynne defeated Willford in the general election, and was then re-elected six times. He served in the 74th United States Congress
and in the six succeeding Congresses, from January 3, 1935 to January 3, 1949. In 1948, Gwynne lost his seat when fellow Republican H.R. Gross
, a popular radio news commentator, defeated Gwynne's bid for the Republican nomination.
appointed Gwynne to the Federal Trade Commission
in 1953, and appointed fellow Waterloo native Edward F. Howrey as its chair. When Howrey resigned as chair in 1955, Gwynne replaced him, and served as FTC chair until 1959.
He retired to Waterloo, where he died July 5, 1972. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Iowa's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that currently covers an area from Des Moines to the western outskirts of the Cedar Falls-Waterloo Metropolitan Area to the western outskirts of the Cedar Rapids area and to Lucas and Monroe counties .The...
, and a Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
member and chairman during the Eisenhower Administration.
Personal background
Born in Victor, IowaVictor, Iowa
Victor is a city in Poweshiek and Iowa Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 893 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 952 population in the 2000 census.-History:-Geography:Victor is located at ....
and Iowa County, Iowa
Iowa County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,355 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,258 housing units, of which 6,677 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Gwynne attended public schools. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
at Iowa City, Iowa, in 1914, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year. He then commenced practice in Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
and also engaged in agricultural pursuits.
During the First World War, Gwynne served as a second lieutenant in the 313th Trench Mortar Battery of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's 88th Infantry Division, from 1917 to 1919.
He later served as a judge of the municipal court of Waterloo from 1920 to 1926, and as County Attorney of Black Hawk County, Iowa
Black Hawk County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 131,090 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,887 housing units, of which 52,470 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1929 to 1934.
Congress
In 1934, Gwynne ran for Congress against incumbent Democratic Congressman Albert C. WillfordAlbert C. Willford
Albert Clinton Willford was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district and supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal." He was elected in 1932, defeated in 1934, and failed to regain his seat in 1936.Born in Vinton, Iowa, Willford attended the country and town...
. Willford's election in 1932, as part of the Roosevelt landslide, was only the third time that Iowa's 3rd congressional district had elected a Democrat. Gwynne defeated Willford in the general election, and was then re-elected six times. He served in the 74th United States Congress
74th United States Congress
-House:Also 2 Delegates, 3 Resident Commissioners-Senate:*President of the Senate: John N. Garner *President pro tempore: Key Pittman -Majority leadership:*Majority leader: Joseph T. Robinson...
and in the six succeeding Congresses, from January 3, 1935 to January 3, 1949. In 1948, Gwynne lost his seat when fellow Republican H.R. Gross
Harold R. Gross
Harold Royce Gross was a Republican United States Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district for thirteen terms...
, a popular radio news commentator, defeated Gwynne's bid for the Republican nomination.
Federal Trade Commission
President Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
appointed Gwynne to the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
in 1953, and appointed fellow Waterloo native Edward F. Howrey as its chair. When Howrey resigned as chair in 1955, Gwynne replaced him, and served as FTC chair until 1959.
He retired to Waterloo, where he died July 5, 1972. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery.