Bryan F. Mahan
Encyclopedia
Bryan Francis Mahan was an American legislator and Representative
from Connecticut
.
Born in New London, Connecticut
, Mahan attended public schools and graduated from Robert Bartlett High School where he studied to become a plumber
. He later attended the Albany Law School
, and graduated in 1880. He was subsequently admitted to the bar
in 1881 and commenced practice in New London. Mahan served as member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
in 1882 and 1883, followed by membership on the Board of School Visitors (1885–1887) where he held the position of secretary. He was appointed as prosecuting attorney in 1891 but resigned in 1892. Mahan was one of the organizers of the City of Richmond Steamboat Co. (1893) and served as president.
Mahan's work as a public servant continued as Postmaster
of New London from October 30, 1894, to December 20, 1898, mayor
(1904–1906 and 1910–1913), and as a member of the Connecticut Senate
from 1910 and 1911. He also served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
s of 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1916.
Mahan was elected as a Democrat
to the Sixty-third Congress
(March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1915) and made an unsuccessful bid for reelection in 1914. He was again appointed as Postmaster of New London on March 23, 1915, and served until his death on November 16, 1923. He is interred at St. Mary's Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Born in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, Mahan attended public schools and graduated from Robert Bartlett High School where he studied to become a plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
. He later attended the Albany Law School
Albany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
, and graduated in 1880. He was subsequently admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1881 and commenced practice in New London. Mahan served as member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
in 1882 and 1883, followed by membership on the Board of School Visitors (1885–1887) where he held the position of secretary. He was appointed as prosecuting attorney in 1891 but resigned in 1892. Mahan was one of the organizers of the City of Richmond Steamboat Co. (1893) and served as president.
Mahan's work as a public servant continued as Postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of New London from October 30, 1894, to December 20, 1898, mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
(1904–1906 and 1910–1913), and as a member of the Connecticut Senate
Connecticut Senate
The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 94,600 inhabitants. Senators are elected to two-year terms without term limits...
from 1910 and 1911. He also served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s of 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1916.
Mahan was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Sixty-third Congress
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
(March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1915) and made an unsuccessful bid for reelection in 1914. He was again appointed as Postmaster of New London on March 23, 1915, and served until his death on November 16, 1923. He is interred at St. Mary's Cemetery.