James Coughlin Shannon (July 21, 1896 – March 6, 1980) was an American politician and the
77th Governor of Connecticut.
Biography
Shannon was born in
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the fifth-most populous in New England. Located in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequo ...
on July 21, 1896. He was the son of Henry E. Shannon and Ellen Coughlin Shannon. He completed his bachelor's degree from
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private research university in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded by Bishop John Carroll in 1789 as Georgetown College, the university has grown to comprise eleven undergraduate and graduate ...
in 1918, and completed his LL.B. degree from
Yale Law School
Yale Law School (Yale Law or YLS) is the law school of Yale University, a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. It was established in 1824 and has been ranked as the best law school in the United States by '' U.S. News & World ...
in 1921. He married Helen M. McMurray on April 15, 1925. The couple had two sons, John H., and James C. Jr.; as well as one daughter, Helen Clair Richards.
Career
Shannon became Bridgeport's prosecuting attorney in 1923. He held that position for nine years. He was on the bench of the Bridgeport City and Juvenile Courts from 1931 to 1935. He was the attorney for the Connecticut Federation of Labor from 1939 to 1948. In 1948 he was a delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut. As a member of the US Navy Reserve, he served as an aviator in the U.S. Navy Air Force during World War I.
Shannon served as the
89th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1947 to 1948. James L. McConaughy, the
Governor of Connecticut
The governor of Connecticut is the head of government of Connecticut, and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Connec ...
at the time, died on March 7, 1948. Shannon became the governor on the same day. During his term, legislation was constituted that raised old-age pension benefits. He was also successful in securing the appropriate legislation regarding housing reform measures. He was unsuccessful in his re-election bid in 1948, and left office on January 5, 1949.
After leaving office, Shannon was on the bench of the Connecticut Superior Court from 1953 to 1965. He was a member of Republican National Committee from Connecticut in 1952. He also was an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1965 to 1966.
Death
Shannon died at a convalescent hospital in Fairfield on March 6, 1980. He is interred in
Oak Lawn Cemetery in
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders the city of Bridgeport and towns of Trumbull, Easton, Weston, and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. Located within the New York metropolitan ar ...
.
References
Further reading
* Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. ''Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978''. Greenwood Press, 1988.
External links
*
*
The Political Graveyard
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, James C.
1896 births
1980 deaths
Georgetown University alumni
Republican Party governors of Connecticut
Politicians from Bridgeport, Connecticut
Yale Law School alumni
20th-century American politicians
Lawyers from Bridgeport, Connecticut
Justices of the Connecticut Supreme Court
20th-century American judges
20th-century American lawyers