Laurence Curtis
Encyclopedia
Laurence Curtis was a United States Representative from Massachusetts
. He was born in Boston. He graduated from Groton School
in 1912 and from Harvard University
in 1916. He served in the Foreign Diplomatic Service. During the World War I
, he entered the United States Navy
and after a training crash, resulting in the loss of a leg, served out the rest of the war as a ground officer in Pensacola, Florida
. He was awarded the Silver Star
for war services.
He returned to Harvard Law School
and graduated in 1921. He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar the same year and commenced practice in Boston. He was secretary to United States Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
. He served as assistant United States attorney in Boston, was a member of Boston City Council
, a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
, a member of Massachusetts State Senate, Massachusetts State Treasurer
, a delegate to Republican National Convention
in 1960, and a past State Commander and National Senior Vice Commander of the Disabled American Veterans
. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
in 1950
.
He was elected as a Republican
to the Eighty-third and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953-January 3, 1963). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1962 to the Eighty-eighth Congress, but was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate
. He resumed the practice of law, was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress, in 1970 to the Ninety-second Congress, and for nomination in 1972 to the Ninety-third Congress. He was a resident of Newton
until his death in Boston on July 11, 1989.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He was born in Boston. He graduated from Groton School
Groton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
in 1912 and from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1916. He served in the Foreign Diplomatic Service. During the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he entered the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and after a training crash, resulting in the loss of a leg, served out the rest of the war as a ground officer in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
. He was awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for war services.
He returned to Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
and graduated in 1921. He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar the same year and commenced practice in Boston. He was secretary to United States Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932...
. He served as assistant United States attorney in Boston, was a member of Boston City Council
Boston City Council
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
, a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, a member of Massachusetts State Senate, Massachusetts State Treasurer
Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
The Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts is an executive officer, elected state-wide every four years....
, a delegate to Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1960, and a past State Commander and National Senior Vice Commander of the Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans
The Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, is an organization for disabled veterans that helps them and their families through various means. It currently has over 1.2 million members...
. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
in 1950
Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1950
The 1950 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1950. Democratic incumbent Paul A. Dever defeated Republican Arthur W. Coolidge, Socialist Labor candidate Horace Hillis, and Prohibition candidate Mark R. Shaw....
.
He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Eighty-third and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953-January 3, 1963). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1962 to the Eighty-eighth Congress, but was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination 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...
. He resumed the practice of law, was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress, in 1970 to the Ninety-second Congress, and for nomination in 1972 to the Ninety-third Congress. He was a resident of Newton
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
until his death in Boston on July 11, 1989.