Joseph A. A. Burnquist

Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist (July 21, 1879 – January 12, 1961) was an American attorney and Republican politician. He served in the Minnesota State Legislature from 1909 to 1911, was elected the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 1912, and then served as the 19th Governor of Minnesota from December 30, 1915 to January 5, 1921. He became governor after the death of Governor Winfield Scott Hammond (1863–1915). Burnquist returned to serve as Minnesota Attorney General from January 2, 1939 until January 3, 1955.[1]

Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist
21st Attorney General of Minnesota
In office January 2, 1939 – January 3, 1955
Governor	Harold E. Stassen Edward J. Thye Luther W. Youngdahl C. Elmer Anderson
Preceded by	William S. Ervin
Succeeded by	Miles W. Lord
19th Governor of Minnesota
In office December 30, 1915 – January 5, 1921
Lieutenant	George H. Sullivan Thomas Frankson
Preceded by	Winfield Scott Hammond
Succeeded by	J. A. O. Preus
20th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office January 7, 1913 – December 30, 1915
Governor	Adolph O. Eberhart Winfield S. Hammond
Preceded by	Samuel Y. Gordon
Succeeded by	George H. Sullivan
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office 1909-1912
Personal details
Born	July 21, 1879 Dayton, Iowa
Died	January 12, 1961 (aged 81) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Louise Cross
Alma mater	University of Minnesota Law School
Profession	Lawyer, politician

Early years

Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist was born in Dayton, Iowa of Swedish descent. He attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1905.[2] After a brief time practicing law in St. Paul, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1909 to 1912.[3]

Political career

Governor of Minnesota

1918 election poster

During his second term as lieutenant governor, he succeeded Governor Hammond, who died in office unexpectedly. Turbulent times surrounded America's entrance into World War I in 1917. In 1917, Burnquist created commissioned the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety to monitor public sentiment toward the war. The seven-member commission, ostensibly nonpartisan, firmly opposed any action its members considered suspect. Burnquist also initiated legislation that improved the state highways, disaster assistance programs, labor relations, and, especially the welfare of children.[4]

Attorney General of Minnesota

After leaving office he practiced law for 17 years before beginning his lengthy tenure as state Attorney General in 1939. At 16 years and 1 day, he was narrowly surpassed by Skip Humphrey, who served 16 years and 3 days at the end of his tenure in 1999, for longest served Minnesota Attorney General. During the 1920s, he wrote several works in the series "Minnesota and its People" at his home in St. Paul.[5]

Personal life

Burnquist's home at 27 Crocus Place in St. Paul

Burnquist was married on January 1, 1906 to Mary Louise Cross (1880 - 1966). Burnquist died in Minneapolis at the age of 81. [6]

References

1. "Joseph A. A. Burnquist". National Governors Association. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
2. Jessica Thompson, Minnesota's Legal Hall of Fame, Law & Politics, Accessed November 28, 2010.
3. Burnquist, Joseph Alfred Arner Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
4. "Minnesota Commission of Public Safety". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
5. Melo, Frederick (April 8, 2015). "St. Paul Crocus Hill home demolition gets court's OK". Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
6. "Mary Louise Cross Burnquist". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

External links

• Joseph A. A. Burnquist at Find a Grave
• Governors of Minnesota
• Minnesota Legislators Past and Present

Other sources

• Algot E. Strand (1910) A History of the Swedish-Americans of Minnesota, Volume 3 (Lewis Publishing)

Related reading

• Biographical information and his gubernatorial records are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.