Biography
Byrns was born in Davidson County, Tennessee, the son of former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, House Speaker Jo Byrns, Joseph W. Byrns and Julia Woodard. He completed his schooling at the Emerson Institute in Washington, D.C. in 1923 while his father was serving in Congress. In 1928, he graduated from the Vanderbilt University Law School and was admitted to the bar (law), bar the same year. Byrns was first married to Cornelia Park in 1929, but the marriage ended in divorce. It is said that Cornelia liked being Mrs. Joseph W. Byrns Jr., and for the rest of her life refused to acknowledge the divorce. Byrns later enjoyed a happy marriage to Mrs. Lillie (Warmack) Adams of Goodlettsville, Tennessee.Career
From 1930 to 1938, Byrns was a member of the reserve component of the former U.S. Army Air Corps, Army Air Corps, where he became a Captain (land and air), captain. In 1938, Byrns won the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic nomination for his father's old House seat and was elected to that office in November of that year. He served that one term, from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1941, and won the Democratic nomination for a second one in 1940. His vote for an amendment that would have postponed the operation of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, Selective Service Act by 60 days helped to inspire opposition from an Independent (politics), independent candidate named Percy Priest, who was a member of the editorial staff of the ''The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessean''. Priest defeated Byrns by a 50%-43% margin (24,565 votes to 20,933 votes, with 3,459 votes going to the Republican Party (United States), Republican nominee). After his defeat, he resumed the practice of law. Byrns served on active duty in the United States Army during World War II, from June 23, 1942 until August 17, 1945, almost all of this time in the European Theater of Operations. Although Byrns achieved some stature during his life, he was always overshadowed by the successes and popularity of his father. Afterwards, he retired to Florida.Death
Byrns died in Daytona Beach, Florida on March 8, 1973, aged 69, and is burial, interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Nashville), Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville along with his parents and second wife.References
External links
* *Gowan, Phillip A. ''Byrns/Jackson, A Record of Their Probationary State'' *''This article incorporates material from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Byrns, Joseph W. Jr. 1903 births 1973 deaths 20th-century American lawyers Burials at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Nashville) Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee People from Davidson County, Tennessee United States Army Air Forces officers United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II United States Army officers Vanderbilt University Law School alumni 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives