Lambert Estes Gwinn
Encyclopedia
Lambert Estes Gwinn was a Tennessee educator, politician, and attorney. He served as a state senator (1919–1921) and ran for governor in the Democratic
primaries
in 1922 and 1930. As a prominent criminal and appellate lawyer, he represented many clients before the Tennessee Supreme Court
, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
in Tipton County, Tennessee
, and attended a small public school near there. His formal education ended in 1900 when he became qualified as a teacher at 16 years old. Despite little formal education, he was a prodigious reader and possessed the determination for continued self-study. For the next 7 years, he taught in the Tipton County school system and also served as a principal. He left the ranks of teaching in 1907 to become editor/publisher of the Tipton County Record; this position brought him into contact with many prominent people of the community and the state.
Gwinn studied law in the offices of Stephenson and Simonton in Covington, Tennessee
, and passed the state bar examination
to become a lawyer in 1909. In addition to his law practice, he served as: Tipton County School Superintendent (1911–17), president of the Tennessee Teachers Association (1917), president of the Covington Board of Education (1923), and member of the Tennessee Democratic Committee (1914–1920). During World War I
, Gwinn was one of the 75 thousand "Four Minute Men
", a group of volunteers who gave brief speeches supporting the war effort wherever and whenever they could get an audience. Gwinn's other business interests included being the president of Planters Bank of Atoka
and on the board of directors of Union Savings Bank in Covington, Tennessee
.
In 1918, Gwinn was elected as a state senator in the 61st General Assembly (1919–1920) representing Shelby and Tipton Counties. In 1922, he ran in the Democratic
primaries against Austin Peay
, former Governor Benton McMillin
, and General Harvey H. Hannah. Peay won the primary election
and ultimately defeated the sitting Governor Alfred Taylor
, who was the last Republican
governor of Tennessee for nearly 50 years.
Moving to Memphis in 1923, Gwinn became a strong supporter of Mayor Rowlett Paine, who served in opposition to the political machine led by "Boss
" E. H. Crump
. Paine lost the 1927 mayoral election to Watkins Overton, who represented the Crump machine, and this marked the resurgence of Crump's dominance in the politics of western Tennessee. In 1930, Gwinn ran in the Democratic gubernatorial primaries against the sitting Governor Henry Horton, who had the support of Caldwell-Lea political machine in Nashville
. Gwinn was supported by two ex-governors, Benton McMillin
and Albert H. Roberts
, and by Hill McAlister
. Crump, who had opposed Horton's election in 1928, threw his support behind Horton in the Democratic primaries of 1930. Horton won the primary election by 123,642 votes to Gwinn's 88,416. Shelby County made the difference, giving Horton 27,634 votes compared to Gwinn's 2,267. Virtually all statewide political contests in Tennessee during this era were resolved in the Democratic primaries rather than in the general elections. Crump had made a governor, but most remarkable was that over 20 thousand voters who had been against Horton in 1928 changed their minds at Crump's suggestion and voted for Horton in 1930.
After the 1930 election, Gwinn focused on his law practice. One of his more noteworthy cases involved Luke Lea
's trial for bank fraud. Gwinn was well known for his love of practicing courtroom law, and he often represented needy clients pro bono
.
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...
primaries
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
in 1922 and 1930. As a prominent criminal and appellate lawyer, he represented many clients before the Tennessee Supreme Court
Tennessee Supreme Court
The Tennessee Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Tennessee. Cornelia Clark is the current Chief Justice.Unlike other states, in which the state attorney general is directly elected or appointed by the governor or state legislature, the Tennessee Supreme Court appoints the...
, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Biography
Gwinn was born and raised in the rural community of BurlisonBurlison, Tennessee
Burlison is a town in Tipton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 453 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Burlison is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
in Tipton County, Tennessee
Tipton County, Tennessee
Tipton County is a county located on the western end of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 51,271. Its county seat is Covington. Tipton County is part of the Memphis, TN–MS–AR Metropolitan Statistical Area, centered on Shelby County, which borders Tipton on...
, and attended a small public school near there. His formal education ended in 1900 when he became qualified as a teacher at 16 years old. Despite little formal education, he was a prodigious reader and possessed the determination for continued self-study. For the next 7 years, he taught in the Tipton County school system and also served as a principal. He left the ranks of teaching in 1907 to become editor/publisher of the Tipton County Record; this position brought him into contact with many prominent people of the community and the state.
Gwinn studied law in the offices of Stephenson and Simonton in Covington, Tennessee
Covington, Tennessee
Covington is a city in central Tipton County in the State of Tennessee. Covington is the largest city and county seat of, Tipton County. Covington is located in one of just five counties of West Tennessee that are located along the Mississippi River, thus it is in extreme western Tennessee.This...
, and passed the state bar examination
Bar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
to become a lawyer in 1909. In addition to his law practice, he served as: Tipton County School Superintendent (1911–17), president of the Tennessee Teachers Association (1917), president of the Covington Board of Education (1923), and member of the Tennessee Democratic Committee (1914–1920). During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Gwinn was one of the 75 thousand "Four Minute Men
Four Minute Men
The Four Minute Men were a group of volunteers authorized by the President Woodrow Wilson, to give four-minute speeches on topics given to them by The Committee on Public Information...
", a group of volunteers who gave brief speeches supporting the war effort wherever and whenever they could get an audience. Gwinn's other business interests included being the president of Planters Bank of Atoka
Atoka, Tennessee
Atoka is a town in Tipton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,235 at the 2000 census. World War I Medal of Honor recipient Joseph B...
and on the board of directors of Union Savings Bank in Covington, Tennessee
Covington, Tennessee
Covington is a city in central Tipton County in the State of Tennessee. Covington is the largest city and county seat of, Tipton County. Covington is located in one of just five counties of West Tennessee that are located along the Mississippi River, thus it is in extreme western Tennessee.This...
.
In 1918, Gwinn was elected as a state senator in the 61st General Assembly (1919–1920) representing Shelby and Tipton Counties. In 1922, he ran in the 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...
primaries against Austin Peay
Austin Peay
Austin Peay was Governor of Tennessee from 1923 until his death in 1927.-Biography:Peay, a native of Kentucky, moved to Clarksville, Tennessee and opened a law practice in 1896. He was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1901 and re-elected in 1903...
, former Governor Benton McMillin
Benton McMillin
Benton McMillin was governor of the U.S. state of Tennessee from 1899 to 1903. A Democrat, he was a native of Monroe County, Kentucky and an attorney.-Biography:...
, and General Harvey H. Hannah. Peay won the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and ultimately defeated the sitting Governor Alfred Taylor
Alfred A. Taylor
Alfred Alexander Taylor, nickname Alf Taylor , was a lawyer and politician, serving as United States Congressman from 1889–1895, and later elected the Governor of Tennessee, serving from 1921 to 1923. Notably, in 1886 he lost the gubernatorial race to his younger brother Robert, a Democrat.- Early...
, who was the last Republican
Republican 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...
governor of Tennessee for nearly 50 years.
Moving to Memphis in 1923, Gwinn became a strong supporter of Mayor Rowlett Paine, who served in opposition to the political machine led by "Boss
Political machine
A political machine is a political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses , who receive rewards for their efforts...
" E. H. Crump
E. H. Crump
Edward Hull "Boss" Crump was an American politician from Memphis, Tennessee. He was mayor from 1910 through 1915, and again briefly in 1940; in the intervening years he effectively appointed the mayors.-Career:...
. Paine lost the 1927 mayoral election to Watkins Overton, who represented the Crump machine, and this marked the resurgence of Crump's dominance in the politics of western Tennessee. In 1930, Gwinn ran in the Democratic gubernatorial primaries against the sitting Governor Henry Horton, who had the support of Caldwell-Lea political machine in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Gwinn was supported by two ex-governors, Benton McMillin
Benton McMillin
Benton McMillin was governor of the U.S. state of Tennessee from 1899 to 1903. A Democrat, he was a native of Monroe County, Kentucky and an attorney.-Biography:...
and Albert H. Roberts
Albert H. Roberts
Albert Houston Roberts was Governor of Tennessee from 1919 to 1921.-Biography:A native of the Alpine community in Overton County, Tennessee, Roberts was a graduate of Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee. He taught school at the Alpine Institute in the 1890s and later served as county...
, and by Hill McAlister
Hill McAlister
Harry Hill McAlister was Governor of Tennessee from 1933 to 1937.-Biography:Hill McAlister was born in Nashville to a family kin to at least two former governors of Tennessee and the former governor of the predecessor Southwest Territory, William Blount...
. Crump, who had opposed Horton's election in 1928, threw his support behind Horton in the Democratic primaries of 1930. Horton won the primary election by 123,642 votes to Gwinn's 88,416. Shelby County made the difference, giving Horton 27,634 votes compared to Gwinn's 2,267. Virtually all statewide political contests in Tennessee during this era were resolved in the Democratic primaries rather than in the general elections. Crump had made a governor, but most remarkable was that over 20 thousand voters who had been against Horton in 1928 changed their minds at Crump's suggestion and voted for Horton in 1930.
After the 1930 election, Gwinn focused on his law practice. One of his more noteworthy cases involved Luke Lea
Luke Lea (1879–1945)
Luke Lea was a Democratic United States Senator from Tennessee from 1911 to 1917.-Biography:Lea was the great-grandson of an earlier Luke Lea who was a two-term Congressman from Tennessee in the 1830s...
's trial for bank fraud. Gwinn was well known for his love of practicing courtroom law, and he often represented needy clients pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
.