Robert E. Quinn
Encyclopedia
Robert Emmet Quinn was an American
politician
and the 58th Governor of Rhode Island.
Quinn was born on April 2, 1894 in Phenix, Rhode Island
. He graduated from Brown University
in 1915. He then completed his law degree from Harvard Law School
in 1918.
He became the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1932 to 1937. He was nominated for governorship of Rhode Island when incumbent Governor Francis Green
chose to run for a seat in the United States Senate
. He held the governor's office from January 5, 1937 to January 3, 1939. During his administration, Quinn advocated a merit system
for state workers, a personal income tax
, and exemption for the poor from real estate taxes
.
Quinn was unsuccessful in his re-election bid. He returned to his law practice and won appointment to a Superior Court judgeship in 1941. During World War II
, he entered the military as a Commander in the Navy
’s legal branch. He served for four years, rising to the rank of Captain. He returned to the bench after the end of the war. In 1951, he was named Chief Judge of a new United States Court of Military Appeals
, a position from which he retired in 1975.
He died on May 19, 1975.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the 58th Governor of Rhode Island.
Quinn was born on April 2, 1894 in Phenix, Rhode Island
West Warwick, Rhode Island
West Warwick is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 29,191 at the 2010 census.West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state. Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the western bank of the Pawtuxet River, was the population and...
. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1915. He then completed his law degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1918.
He became the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1932 to 1937. He was nominated for governorship of Rhode Island when incumbent Governor Francis Green
Theodore F. Green
Theodore Francis Green was an American politician from the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A Democrat, Green served as the 57th Governor of Rhode Island and in the United States Senate . He was the grandnephew of Samuel G...
chose to run for a seat in the United States Senate
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...
. He held the governor's office from January 5, 1937 to January 3, 1939. During his administration, Quinn advocated a merit system
Merit system
The merit system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. It is the opposite of the spoils system.- History :...
for state workers, a personal income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
, and exemption for the poor from real estate taxes
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
.
Quinn was unsuccessful in his re-election bid. He returned to his law practice and won appointment to a Superior Court judgeship in 1941. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he entered the military as a Commander in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
’s legal branch. He served for four years, rising to the rank of Captain. He returned to the bench after the end of the war. In 1951, he was named Chief Judge of a new United States Court of Military Appeals
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces or CAAF is an Article I court that exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the United States armed forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice...
, a position from which he retired in 1975.
He died on May 19, 1975.
Sources
- Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2