Leon Rutherford Taylor (October 26, 1883 – April 1, 1924) was an American politician who was the acting

governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official r ...

from October 28, 1913, to January 20, 1914. Taylor took office upon the resignation of

James Fairman Fielder James Fairman Fielder (February 26, 1867 – December 2, 1954) was an American politician of the Democratic party, who served as the 35th governor of New Jersey, from 1914 to 1917. He had previously served as acting governor in 1913 but stepped ...

, who had stepped down to create a vacancy in the governorship and avoid constitutional limits on succeeding himself.

Biography

Taylor was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on October 26, 1883. He attended

Denison University Denison University is a private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio. One of the earliest colleges established in the former Northwest Territory, Denison University was founded in 1831. The college was first called the Granville Literary and ...

in Ohio, studied law and established himself as a lawyer in New Jersey. Taylor was elected to three terms in the

New Jersey General Assembly The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...

, and was chosen as its speaker. After

Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official r ...

resigned from office on October 28, 1913, Taylor became

acting governor An acting governor is a person who acts in the role of governor. In Commonwealth jurisdictions where the governor is a vice-regal position, the role of "acting governor" may be filled by a lieutenant governor (as in most Australian states) or an ...

by virtue of his role as

speaker of the house The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

, serving until January 20, 1914, when Fielder assumed a full term in office. Taylor died on April 1, 1924, in

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

. He was never married and has no child.

References

External links

New Jersey History Facts
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Leon R. 1883 births 1924 deaths Democratic Party governors of New Jersey Speakers of the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly Politicians from Asbury Park, New Jersey Baptists from New Jersey 20th-century American politicians Denison University alumni New Jersey lawyers 20th-century American lawyers 19th-century American lawyers 19th-century Baptists 20th-century Baptists