Joseph Rider Farrington
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rider Farrington (October 15, 1897 – June 19, 1954) was an American newspaper editor and statesman who served in the United States Congress
as delegate for the Territory of Hawai'i
.
to Wallace Rider Farrington, the future Territorial Governor of Hawai'i
. While still an infant, he moved to Honolulu, Hawai'i
with his parents where his father began work as an editor
for the Honolulu Advertiser
and later the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
newspapers. Farrington attended Punahou School
and upon graduating studied at the University of Wisconsin. He dropped out of college in June 1918 to enlist in the United States Army
. He was commissioned a second lieutenant
of field artillery
in September 1918 and discharged the following December. He returned to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and graduated in 1919.
delegate
to Congress. He died in office in Washington, D.C. on June 19, 1954. His wife, Elizabeth P. Farrington
, was appointed to replace him in Congress. Farrington was buried in the Oahu Cemetery
in Nuuanu Valley in Honolulu.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
as delegate for the Territory of Hawai'i
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
.
Education and military career
Farrington was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to Wallace Rider Farrington, the future Territorial Governor of Hawai'i
Governor of Hawaii
The Governor of Hawaii is the chief executive of the state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 1 through 6. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state...
. While still an infant, he moved to Honolulu, Hawai'i
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
with his parents where his father began work as an editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
for the Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu Advertiser
The Honolulu Advertiser was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in the American state of Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions...
and later the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
newspapers. Farrington attended Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
and upon graduating studied at the University of Wisconsin. He dropped out of college in June 1918 to enlist in 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...
. He was commissioned a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
of field artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
in September 1918 and discharged the following December. He returned to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and graduated in 1919.
Newspaper career
As soon as he obtained his degree in Wisconsin, Farrington returned to Honolulu to follow in his father's footsteps and entered the newspaper business. He became a reporter and then editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. In 1939, Farrington succeeded his father to become president and general manager of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, an office in which he served until his death.Political career
Farrington began a part-time political career as secretary to the Hawai'i Legislative Commission in 1933. The following year he was elected to the Hawaii Territorial Senate, an office he served in through 1942. On January 3, 1943, Farrington was sworn in as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
to Congress. He died in office in Washington, D.C. on June 19, 1954. His wife, Elizabeth P. Farrington
Elizabeth P. Farrington
Mary Elizabeth Pruett Farrington , usually called Elizabeth P. Farrington, was publisher of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and an American statesman who served as delegate to the United States Congress for the Territory of Hawai'i. She was the wife to Joseph Rider Farrington, whom she had succeeded in...
, was appointed to replace him in Congress. Farrington was buried in the Oahu Cemetery
Oahu Cemetery
The Oahu Cemetery is the resting place of many notable early residents of the Honolulu area. They range from missionaries and politicians to sports pioneers and philosophers. Over time it was expanded to become an area known as the Nuuanu Cemetery....
in Nuuanu Valley in Honolulu.