Thomas E. Martin
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ellsworth Martin (January 18, 1893 June 27, 1971) was a United States Representative and Senator
from Iowa
. Martin, a Republican, served in Congress for 22 consecutive years, from January 1939 to January 1961.
Born in Melrose, Iowa
, he attended the public schools and graduated from the State University of Iowa (in 1916) and from its College of Law
(in 1927). He received his LL.M. from Columbia Law School
in 1928 and was a sales analyst and accountant for a rubber company in Akron, Ohio
, and Dallas, Texas
, in 1916 and 1917. During the First World War he served as a first lieutenant with the Thirty-fifth Infantry, United States Army
, from 1917 to 1919. After the war, he continued work in the rubber industry, then became an assistant professor of military science
and tactics at the University of Iowa
from 1921 to 1923. He was admitted to the Iowa bar
in 1927 and commenced practice in Iowa City, of which he served as city solicitor from 1933 to 1935 and mayor from 1935 to 1937.
In 1938, Martin was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Iowa's 1st congressional district
. He was re-elected to the House seven consecutive times, serving from January 3, 1939, to January 3, 1955.
In 1954, instead of running again for the House, Martin ran for the U.S. Senate. He defeated incumbent senator Guy M. Gillette, who was then completing his second full term in the Senate. For the first time since 1924, both of Iowa's senators, and all of its representatives, were Republicans. Martin served from January 3, 1955, to January 3, 1961. He retired after one term, moving to Seattle, Washington
, where he died in June 1971. He was buried in Willamette National Cemetery
, Portland, Oregon
.
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...
from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Martin, a Republican, served in Congress for 22 consecutive years, from January 1939 to January 1961.
Born in Melrose, Iowa
Melrose, Iowa
Melrose is a city in Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 130 at the 2000 census. Melrose is known as Iowa's "Little Ireland"...
, he attended the public schools and graduated from the State University of Iowa (in 1916) and from its 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...
(in 1927). He received his LL.M. from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1928 and was a sales analyst and accountant for a rubber company in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, and Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, in 1916 and 1917. During the First World War he served as a first lieutenant with the Thirty-fifth Infantry, 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...
, from 1917 to 1919. After the war, he continued work in the rubber industry, then became an assistant professor of military science
Military science
Military science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
and tactics at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
from 1921 to 1923. He was admitted to the Iowa 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:...
in 1927 and commenced practice in Iowa City, of which he served as city solicitor from 1933 to 1935 and mayor from 1935 to 1937.
In 1938, Martin 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 U.S. House of Representatives, serving Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers the northeastern part of the state. The district includes Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport and Waterloo....
. He was re-elected to the House seven consecutive times, serving from January 3, 1939, to January 3, 1955.
In 1954, instead of running again for the House, Martin ran for the U.S. Senate. He defeated incumbent senator Guy M. Gillette, who was then completing his second full term in the Senate. For the first time since 1924, both of Iowa's senators, and all of its representatives, were Republicans. Martin served from January 3, 1955, to January 3, 1961. He retired after one term, moving to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, where he died in June 1971. He was buried in Willamette National Cemetery
Willamette National Cemetery
Willamette National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located about southeast of the city of Portland, Oregon. The cemetery encompasses straddling the county line between Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. Up to the end of 2005, there had been 126,561 interments.- History :Plans to...
, Portland, Oregon
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...
.