Nathan L. Bachman
Encyclopedia
Nathan Lynn Bachman was a United States Senator
from Tennessee
from 1933 until his death. He was a member of the Democratic Party
.
. He attended several college
s, including the former Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee
(the predecessor institution to the current Rhodes College
in Memphis, Tennessee
; the campus
is the current setting of Austin Peay State University
), Central University in Richmond, Kentucky
(now merged with Centre College
in Danville, Kentucky
), and Washington and Lee University
in Lexington, Virginia
. He then returned home, attending the former law school
of the former University of Chattanooga (now the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
) before actually graduating from the law school of the University of Virginia
in 1903. He began the practice of law
in Chattanooga that same year.
Bachman was Chattanooga city attorney from 1906 to 1908 and circuit court
judge
from 1912 to 1918. In 1918 he became an Associate Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court
, resigining in 1924 to run for the U.S. Senate. His 1924 campaign was unsuccessful and he returned to the practice of law.
However, on February 28, 1933 Bachman was appointed to the United States Senate by governor of Tennessee Hill McAlister
to the unexpired term of Senator Cordell Hull
, who had resigned to accept the appointment of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
to the office of Secretary of State
. In November, 1934, Bachman was elected to the balance of Hull's unexpired term. He completed the term to which Hull had been elected and was subsequently elected to a full term in his own right in 1936. He died in Washington, D.C.
the next spring after having served less than four months of that term. The Bachman Tubes, highway
tunnel
s on U.S. Highway 41 through Missionary Ridge and connecting Chattanooga with the adjacent town of East Ridge
, are named in his honor.
Bachman was also an active Civitan.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
from 1933 until his death. He was a member of the Democratic Party
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...
.
Biography
Bachman was born in East TennesseeEast Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
. He attended several college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s, including the former Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and the fifth largest city in the state. The population was 132,929 in 2010 United States Census...
(the predecessor institution to the current Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Rhodes College is a private, predominantly undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Originally founded by freemasons in 1848, Rhodes became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in 1855. Rhodes enrolls approximately 1,700 students pursuing bachelor's and master's...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
; the campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
is the current setting of Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:...
), Central University in Richmond, Kentucky
Richmond, Kentucky
There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. Of all households, 34.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had...
(now merged with Centre College
Centre College
Centre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
in Danville, Kentucky
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
), and 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...
in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
. He then returned home, attending the former law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
of the former University of Chattanooga (now the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
) before actually graduating from the law school of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1903. He began the practice of law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Chattanooga that same year.
Bachman was Chattanooga city attorney from 1906 to 1908 and circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
from 1912 to 1918. In 1918 he became an Associate Justice of 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...
, resigining in 1924 to run for the U.S. Senate. His 1924 campaign was unsuccessful and he returned to the practice of law.
However, on February 28, 1933 Bachman was appointed to the United States Senate by governor of Tennessee 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...
to the unexpired term of Senator Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull was an American politician from the U.S. state of Tennessee. He is best known as the longest-serving Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during much of World War II...
, who had resigned to accept the appointment of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to the office of Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
. In November, 1934, Bachman was elected to the balance of Hull's unexpired term. He completed the term to which Hull had been elected and was subsequently elected to a full term in his own right in 1936. He died 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....
the next spring after having served less than four months of that term. The Bachman Tubes, highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s on U.S. Highway 41 through Missionary Ridge and connecting Chattanooga with the adjacent town of East Ridge
East Ridge, Tennessee
East Ridge is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,979. East Ridge is bordered by Chattanooga to the west, north and east, and the Georgia state line to the south. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical...
, are named in his honor.
Bachman was also an active Civitan.