Louis J. Brann

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Louis Jefferson Brann (July 6, 1876 – February 3, 1948) was an American lawyer and political figure. He was the 56th governor of Maine.

Early life

Brann was born in Madison, Maine to Charles M. Brann and Nancy Lancaster Brann.Template:Sfn He attended schools in Gardiner, Maine. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1898, after which he studied law.Template:Sfn He was admitted to the bar in 1902 and began a practice in Lewiston. In the late 1920s he formed Brann & Isaacson with Peter A. Isaacson, a law firm which is still in existence (2010).

On March 8, 1902, Brann married Martha "Mattie" Cobb.Template:Sfn They were the parents of four children—Donald L., Marjorie, Dorothy L., and Nancy E.Template:Sfn

Brann participated widely in local and state government: he was the Androscoggin County Register of Probate (1909-1913);Template:Sfn a municipal judge (1913–1915);Template:Sfn mayor of Lewiston (1915–1917 and 1922–1925);Template:Sfn member of the Maine House of Representatives (1919–1920);Template:Sfn and delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Maine (1924, 1936, 1940 and 1944).Template:Sfn He also served a term as chairman of the Maine Democratic Party.Template:Sfn

Governor of Maine

Brann ran successfully for Governor of Maine in 1932,Template:Sfn and was also successful in his re-election bid in 1934.Template:Sfn During his administration, a constitutional amendment was sanctioned that secured two million dollars in state bonds for emergency relief during the Great Depression.Template:Sfn As part of an initiative to promote Maine tourism and economic development, Brann entertained many celebrities at Blaine House;Template:Sfn the "Maine Summer Visitors Day" program he started brought notables to Maine including Boston Braves President Emil Fuchs, authors Gladys Hasty Carroll, Kenneth Roberts and Ben Ames Williams, and singer Rudy Vallee.Template:Sfn

Brann was the only Democratic governor of Maine between 1917, when Oakley C. Curtis left office, and 1955, when Edmund Muskie assumed office.

Later years

Brann ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1936.Template:Sfn He also ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1938.Template:Sfn Brann ran unsuccessfully for the other Maine Senate seat in 1940.Template:Sfn In 1942, he was also an unsuccessful candidate for Maine's 1st District seat in the United States House of Representatives.Template:Sfn

Brann was a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist,Template:Sfn and held membership in Beta Theta Pi,Template:Sfn and the Knights of Pythias,Template:Sfn Elks,Template:Sfn National Grange,Template:Sfn and Lions Club.Template:Sfn

Brann died in Lewiston on February 3, 1948.Template:Sfn He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Lewiston.Template:Sfn

See also

• List of mayors of Lewiston, Maine

External sources

• Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. Template:ISBN
• Template:PAGENAMEBASE at Find a GraveTemplate:EditAtWikidata