George C. Peery
Encyclopedia
George Campbell Peery was an American
Democratic
politician, and was the 52nd Governor of Virginia
from 1934-1938.
Governor Peery was the first governor to be selected, at least partially, by the soon to be very powerful "Byrd Machine," led by Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr.
Peery was born in Cedar Bluff
, in Tazewell County, Virginia
, in the far southwest portion of the state. He graduated from Emory & Henry College in 1894.
Peery was a member of Congress
, representing the 9th Congressional district of Virginia
from 1923-1929 (the current seatholder is Morgan Griffith
), and was a delegate to the Democratic Nation Convention in 1920 & 1924. Peery was a member of the State Corporation Commission
from 1929 to 1933, then newly elected Senator Byrd approached him to run for Governor in 1933. Peery accepted, and won the November election.
As governor, he created unemployment insurance and, after the repeal of prohibition
, he created Virginia's Alcohol Beverage Control board.
After his retirement as Governor, Peery joined the board of trustees of both Washington and Lee University
and Hollins College.
Peery died in 1952, at the age of 78, two weeks short of his 79th birthday, in Richlands, Virginia
. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell, Virginia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic
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...
politician, and was the 52nd Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
from 1934-1938.
Governor Peery was the first governor to be selected, at least partially, by the soon to be very powerful "Byrd Machine," led by Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr.
Peery was born in Cedar Bluff
Cedar Bluff, Virginia
Cedar Bluff is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,085 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578.-Geography:...
, in Tazewell County, Virginia
Tazewell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,598 people, 18,277 households and 13,232 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 20,390 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
, in the far southwest portion of the state. He graduated from Emory & Henry College in 1894.
Peery was a member of Congress
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...
, representing the 9th Congressional district of Virginia
Virginia's 9th congressional district
Virginia's ninth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia, covering much of the southwestern part of the state. The 9th is Virginia's second-largest district in area, covering 8800.24 square miles . The current representative is Morgan Griffith...
from 1923-1929 (the current seatholder is Morgan Griffith
Morgan Griffith
Howard Morgan Griffith is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 9th congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was the majority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates and represented the 8th District, serving from 1994 until 2011...
), and was a delegate to the Democratic Nation Convention in 1920 & 1924. Peery was a member of the State Corporation Commission
State Corporation Commission
The State Corporation Commission, or SCC, is a Virginia regulatory agency whose authority encompasses utilities, insurance, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, and railroads...
from 1929 to 1933, then newly elected Senator Byrd approached him to run for Governor in 1933. Peery accepted, and won the November election.
As governor, he created unemployment insurance and, after the repeal of prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, he created Virginia's Alcohol Beverage Control board.
After his retirement as Governor, Peery joined the board of trustees of both Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
and Hollins College.
Peery died in 1952, at the age of 78, two weeks short of his 79th birthday, in Richlands, Virginia
Richlands, Virginia
Richlands is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,144 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578.-Geography:Richlands is located at ....
. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell, Virginia
Tazewell, Virginia
Tazewell is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, USA. The population was 4,206 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area, which has a population of 107,578. It is the county seat of Tazewell County....
.