Louis J. Brann Explained

Louis Jefferson Brann
Order1:56th
Office1:Governor of Maine
Term Start1:January 4, 1933
Term End1:January 6, 1937
Predecessor1:William T. Gardiner
Successor1:Lewis O. Barrows
Office2:Mayor of Lewiston, Maine
Term2:1922-1924
Predecessor2:William H. Newell
Successor2:Robert J. Wiseman
Term3:1915-1916
Predecessor3:Robert J. Wiseman
Successor3:Charles P. Lemaire
Office4:Register of Probate for Androscoggin County, Maine
Term Start4:1909
Term End4:1913
Predecessor4:Fred O. Watson
Successor4:James W. Murray
Birth Date:6 July 1876
Birth Place:Madison, Maine, U.S.
Death Place:Falmouth, Maine, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Profession:Attorney
Alma Mater:University of Maine

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. He attended schools in Gardiner, Maine. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1898, after which he studied law. 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. They were the parents of four children—Donald L., Marjorie, Dorothy L., and Nancy E.

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

Governor of Maine

Brann ran successfully for Governor of Maine in 1932, and was also successful in his re-election bid in 1934. During his administration, a constitutional amendment was sanctioned that secured two million dollars in state bonds for emergency relief during the Great Depression. As part of an initiative to promote Maine tourism and economic development, Brann entertained many celebrities at Blaine House; 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.

Later years

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

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

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

Sources

Books

Internet

External sources

|-