Martin L. Sweeney
Encyclopedia
Martin Leonard Sweeney (April 15, 1885 – May 1, 1960) was a U.S. Representative
from Ohio
and the father of Robert E. Sweeney
.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
, Sweeney attended parochial
and public schools in the area. Prior to his political career Sweeney worked as a laborer, hoisting engineer and a salesman from 1901-1913. He served as a member of the State House of Representatives in 1913 and 1914, and graduated from the Cleveland Law School of Baldwin-Wallace College
in 1914. Sweeney was admitted to the bar that same year and begin practicing law in Cleveland. From 1924-32 Sweeney was judge of the municipal court of Cleveland, and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1932.
Sweeney was elected as a Democrat
to the Seventy-second Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles A. Mooney
.
He was re-elected to the Seventy-third
and the four succeeding Congresses, serving from November 3, 1931, to January 3, 1943.
Sweeney was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1942 after being targeted for his stand against British Lend Lease and a vague isolationism
. He was defeated in the primary by Michael Feighan, who represented Cleveland in Congress for the next twenty-eight years.
He was an unsuccessful for Democratic nomination for mayor
of Cleveland, Ohio
, in 1933 and in 1941, and for the gubernatorial nomination in 1944.
Practiced law in Cleveland, Ohio
, until his death there May 1, 1960.
He was interred in Calvary Cemetery.
His daughter was married to the son of Cuyahoga County Sherriff Martin O'Donnell.{1886-1941}
His cousin Dr. Francis Sweeney {d.1964} was a suspect in the Cleveland Torso Murderer
of 1934-1938
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 Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and the father of Robert E. Sweeney
Robert E. Sweeney
Robert E. Sweeney was a U.S. Representative from Ohio and a son of another former Representative, Martin L. Sweeney.-Early life:...
.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Sweeney attended parochial
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
and public schools in the area. Prior to his political career Sweeney worked as a laborer, hoisting engineer and a salesman from 1901-1913. He served as a member of the State House of Representatives in 1913 and 1914, and graduated from the Cleveland Law School of Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
in 1914. Sweeney was admitted to the bar that same year and begin practicing law in Cleveland. From 1924-32 Sweeney was judge of the municipal court of Cleveland, and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1932.
Sweeney was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Seventy-second Congress
72nd United States Congress
The Seventy-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1931 to March 4, 1933, during the last two years...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles A. Mooney
Charles A. Mooney
Charles Anthony Mooney was a five-term U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in St. Marys, Auglaize County, Ohio, Mooney attended the public and Jesuit schools. He was graduated from St. Marys High School in 1895, and then engaged in the local life insurance business. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in...
.
He was re-elected to the Seventy-third
73rd United States Congress
The Seventy-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1935, during the first two years...
and the four succeeding Congresses, serving from November 3, 1931, to January 3, 1943.
Sweeney was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1942 after being targeted for his stand against British Lend Lease and a vague isolationism
Isolationism
Isolationism is the policy or doctrine of isolating one's country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, etc., seeking to devote the entire efforts of one's country to its own advancement and remain at peace by...
. He was defeated in the primary by Michael Feighan, who represented Cleveland in Congress for the next twenty-eight years.
He was an unsuccessful for Democratic nomination for mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, in 1933 and in 1941, and for the gubernatorial nomination in 1944.
Practiced law in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, until his death there May 1, 1960.
He was interred in Calvary Cemetery.
His daughter was married to the son of Cuyahoga County Sherriff Martin O'Donnell.{1886-1941}
His cousin Dr. Francis Sweeney {d.1964} was a suspect in the Cleveland Torso Murderer
Cleveland Torso Murderer
The Cleveland Torso Murderer was an unidentified serial killer who killed and dismembered at least 12 victims in the Cleveland, Ohio area in the 1930s.-Murderers:...
of 1934-1938