John B. Sosnowski
Encyclopedia
John Bartholomew Sosnowski (December 8, 1883 – July 16, 1968) was a politician
from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Sosnowski was born in a Polish family in Detroit, Michigan and attended the parochial and Army schools. During the Spanish-American War
he enlisted as a private
in the Seventh Regiment, United States Cavalry, and served in Cuba
and the Philippines
. After the close of the war, he continued in the service and was on detached duty at the United States Military Academy
, West Point, New York
. He was honorably discharged on December 26, 1906, and returned to Detroit where he engaged in the real estate
and brokerage
business.
Sosnowski rose to the rank of captain and adjutant in the Thirty-first Regiment, Infantry, Michigan Army National Guard
, from 1909 to 1916, with service on the Mexican border in 1916. He was a member and chairman of the board of water commissioners of the city of Detroit from 1918 to 1924.
Sosnowski was elected as a Republican from Michigan's first congressional district to the Sixty-ninth Congress
, serving from March 4, 1925 to March 3, 1927. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1926, when his 1924 Democratic
rival, Robert H. Clancy
, switched parties to become a Republican and defeated Sosnowski in the primary. Sosnowski again ran for the first district and lost in 1928, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1942, 1944, and 1946. In 1952, he ran the seat from Michigan's 16th congressional district
and lost in the Republican primary.
He resumed the real estate and brokerage business in Detroit and was chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1932
, 1936
, 1940
(as an alternate), and 1944
. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1942 to the Seventy-eighth Congress, in 1944 to the Seventy-ninth Congress, and in 1946 to the Eightieth Congress. He would later become hearing examiner for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission from 1947 to 1951.
John Sosnowski died in Detroit and was interred in Sweetest Heart of Mary Cemetery.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Sosnowski was born in a Polish family in Detroit, Michigan and attended the parochial and Army schools. During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
he enlisted as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the Seventh Regiment, United States Cavalry, and served in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. After the close of the war, he continued in the service and was on detached duty at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. He was honorably discharged on December 26, 1906, and returned to Detroit where he engaged in the real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and brokerage
Real estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
business.
Sosnowski rose to the rank of captain and adjutant in the Thirty-first Regiment, Infantry, Michigan Army National Guard
Michigan Army National Guard
- Units :* Joint Forces Headquarters, Lansing, MI* 177th Military Police Brigade, Taylor, MI* 210th Military Police Battalion, Taylor, MI* 1st Battalion, 182nd Field Artillery, Detroit, MI* 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery, Lansing, MI...
, from 1909 to 1916, with service on the Mexican border in 1916. He was a member and chairman of the board of water commissioners of the city of Detroit from 1918 to 1924.
Sosnowski was elected as a Republican from Michigan's first congressional district to the Sixty-ninth Congress
69th United States Congress
The Sixty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1925 to March 4, 1927, during the third and fourth...
, serving from March 4, 1925 to March 3, 1927. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1926, when his 1924 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...
rival, Robert H. Clancy
Robert H. Clancy
Robert Henry Clancy was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Clancy was born in Detroit, Michigan, where he attended the public schools. He graduated from the literary department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1907 and he later studied law there for one year...
, switched parties to become a Republican and defeated Sosnowski in the primary. Sosnowski again ran for the first district and lost in 1928, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1942, 1944, and 1946. In 1952, he ran the seat from Michigan's 16th congressional district
Michigan's 16th congressional district
Michigan's 16th congressional district is an obsolete United States congressional district in Michigan. It covered the communities of Dearborn, Downriver and Monroe County....
and lost in the Republican primary.
He resumed the real estate and brokerage business in Detroit and was chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1932
1932 Republican National Convention
The 1932 Republican National Convention was held at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, from June 14 to June 16, 1932. It renominated President Herbert Hoover and Vice President Charles Curtis for their respective positions....
, 1936
1936 Republican National Convention
The 1936 Republican National Convention was held in Cleveland, Ohio at the Public Auditorium, from June 9 to June 12, 1936. It nominated Governor Alfred Landon of Kansas for President and Frank Knox of Illinois for Vice-President....
, 1940
1940 Republican National Convention
The 1940 Republican National Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 24 to June 28, 1940. It nominated Wendell Willkie of Indiana for President and Senator Charles McNary of Oregon for Vice-President....
(as an alternate), and 1944
1944 Republican National Convention
The 1944 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 26 to 28, 1944. It nominated Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York for President and Governor John Bricker of Ohio for Vice-President....
. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1942 to the Seventy-eighth Congress, in 1944 to the Seventy-ninth Congress, and in 1946 to the Eightieth Congress. He would later become hearing examiner for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission from 1947 to 1951.
John Sosnowski died in Detroit and was interred in Sweetest Heart of Mary Cemetery.