Edward L. Leahy
Encyclopedia
Edward Lawrence Leahy was a United States Senator and federal judge from Rhode Island
. Born in Bristol, Rhode Island
, he attended the public schools, was a student at Brown University
in 1904 and 1905, graduated from the law school of Georgetown University
in 1908, was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1908 and commenced the practice of law in Bristol. He was judge of probate court in Bristol from 1910 to 1939 and a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from 1911 to 1913. He was elected to the Bristol school committee in 1913 and served as master of chancery
in the superior court
. During the First World War he served as a first lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General
's Department of the United States Army
. From 1919 to 1948 he was administrator of State taxes and in 1939 was director of the State department of revenue and regulation. He was director of finance, a member of the State sinking fund
commission, and from 1942 to 1946 the State retirement board. He was adviser to the State department of finance in 1948 - 1949.
Leahy was appointed, on August 24, 1949, as a Democrat
to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of J. Howard McGrath
and served from August 24, 1949, to December 18, 1950, a successor having been elected and qualified; he was not a candidate for election to the vacancy. From January 1951 to his death, he was a United States district court
judge for the district of Rhode Island
. He died in Bristol in 1953; interment was in North Cemetery.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. Born in Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
, he attended the public schools, was a student at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1904 and 1905, graduated from the law school of Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1908, was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1908 and commenced the practice of law in Bristol. He was judge of probate court in Bristol from 1910 to 1939 and a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
from 1911 to 1913. He was elected to the Bristol school committee in 1913 and served as master of chancery
Court of equity
A chancery court, equity court or court of equity is a court that is authorized to apply principles of equity, as opposed to law, to cases brought before it.These courts began with petitions to the Lord Chancellor of England...
in the superior court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
. During the First World War he served as a first lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army
The Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army is composed of Army officers who are also lawyers and who provide legal services to the Army at all levels of command. The Judge Advocate General's Legal Service includes judge advocates, warrant officers, paralegal noncommissioned...
's Department of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. From 1919 to 1948 he was administrator of State taxes and in 1939 was director of the State department of revenue and regulation. He was director of finance, a member of the State sinking fund
Sinking fund
A sinking fund is a fund established by a government agency or business for the purpose of reducing debt by repaying or purchasing outstanding loans and securities held against the entity. It helps keep the borrower liquid so it can repay the bondholder....
commission, and from 1942 to 1946 the State retirement board. He was adviser to the State department of finance in 1948 - 1949.
Leahy was appointed, on August 24, 1949, 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 U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of J. Howard McGrath
J. Howard McGrath
James Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Rhode Island.McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming Governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S...
and served from August 24, 1949, to December 18, 1950, a successor having been elected and qualified; he was not a candidate for election to the vacancy. From January 1951 to his death, he was a United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
judge for the district of Rhode Island
United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution...
. He died in Bristol in 1953; interment was in North Cemetery.