Fred J. Burrell Explained

Fred J. Burrell
Birth Date:March 12, 1889
Birth Place:Medford, Massachusetts
Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
Term Start:January 21, 1920
Term End:September 3, 1920
Governor:Calvin Coolidge
Successor:Albert P. Langtry
Henry A. Wyman
John R. Macomber (acting)
Office2:Delegate to the 1917 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention
Representing the 26th Middlesex District of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Term Start2:June 6, 1917
Term End2:April 6, 1918
Office3:Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
26th Middlesex District
Term Start3:1917
Term End3:1919
Occupation:Publisher of textile textbooks, Advertising agent
Party:Republican

Fred Jefferson Burrell (March 12, 1889 – October 15, 1955) was a Massachusetts businessman and politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and as Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts from January 21, 1920 – September 3, 1920.

1917 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention

In 1916 the Massachusetts legislature and electorate approved a calling of a Constitutional Convention. In May 1917, Burell was elected to serve as a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1917, representing the 26th Middlesex District of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Massachusetts Treasurer

Elected Treasurer in 1919, Burrell resigned from the position on September 3, 1920, following an investigation by a special legislative committee, which revealed that banks using the services of an advertising agency owned by Burrell received increased amounts of state money.[1] Burrell was also criticized for depositing $125,000 of state funds with Hanover Trust Company, a bank run by Charles Ponzi.[2]

Burrell denied any wrongdoing and ran for Treasurer five more times after his resignation, losing to Charles F. Hurley in 1930, John E. Hurley in 1944 and 1950, Roy C. Papalia in the 1952 Republican primary, and Laurence Curtis in the 1956 Republican primary.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: BURRELL RESIGNS; DENIES WRONGDOING; State Treasurer Quits as Bank Officials Testify State Deposits Followed Advertising. Amounts within the Law but Institution Felt It Was "HeldUp" for Patronage of State Official's Agency . The New York Times . September 4, 1920.
  2. News: COOLIDGE APPOINTS JACKSON TREASURER; Director of Red Cross Activities in Massachusetts During the War Succeeds Burrell. LATTER QUIT UNDER FIRE Auditor Finds His Accounts Correct and Legislative Inquiry Halts Until Wednesday . . September 5, 1920 . 2010-02-15 .
  3. Web site: Our Campaigns - Candidate - Fred J. Burrell.