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Created page with "{{Officeholder |name=Joseph Andrew Gavagan |image= |party=Democrat |spouse= |religion=Roman Catholic |offices= {{Officeholder/representative |state=New York |distri..."
{{Officeholder
|name=Joseph Andrew Gavagan
|image=
|party=[[Democrat]]
|spouse=
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=New York
|district=21st
|terms=November 5, 1929 – December 30, 1943
|preceded=Royal H. Weller
|former=y
|succeeded=James H. Torrens
}}
{{Officeholder/misc
|office=State Assemblyman from [[New York]]'s 22nd District (New York County)
|terms=1923–1929
|preceded=Michael E. Reiburn
|former=y
|succeeded=Benjamin B. Mittler
}}
|military=y
|allegiance=[[United States]]
|rank=Second Lieutenant (active)<br>First Lieutenant (reserves)
|branch=[[United States Army]]
|unit=Quartermaster Corps
|serviceyears=1917–1919 (active)<br>1920–1925 (reserves)
|battles=[[World War I]]
|awards=
}}
'''Joseph Andrew Gavagan''' (August 20, 1892 – October 18, 1968) was a lawyer and [[Democrat]]ic politician from [[New York]] who represented the state's 21st congressional district in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] for fourteen years, previously serving in the state assembly. He rose to prominence in the [[New Deal]] years as a crusader for the enactment of federal [[anti-lynching law]], which never materialized due to a circle of senatorial Southern Democrats persistently blocking proposed bills.
==Early life and education==
Gavagan was born to a Catholic family in the "Hell's Kitchen" part of [[New York City]] on August 20, 1892. After attending both public and parochial schools, he enrolled in Fordham University, graduating from the law department in 1920 and admitted to the bar in the same year. Gavagan subsequently commenced law practice in New York City.
During [[World War I]], Gavagan served from 1917–19, enlisting as a private and later promoted within the Quartermaster Corps to second lieutenant. In the postwar years, he was a first lieutenant in the Quartermaster Reserve Corps until 1925.
==U.S. House of Representatives==
Following the death of sitting congressman Royal H. Weller, Gavagan ran for the open seat in 1929 and soundly won, defeating Republican opponent Hubert T. Delaney.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=212853 NY District 21 Special Race - Nov 05, 1929]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 19, 2023.</ref> He was subsequently reelected seven times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=80771 Candidate - Joseph A. Gavagan]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 19, 2023.</ref>
===Gavagan Anti-Lynching Bill of 1937===
:{{main|Gavagan–Van Nuys–Wagner Act}}
On April 13, 1937, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 281–108 to take up consideration, the following day, Gavagan's anti-lynching bill which would designate federal offenses for officers who enable mobs to injure and/or kill prisoners.<ref>April 13, 1937. [https://www.nytimes.com/1937/04/13/archives/votes-out-lynching-bill-house-brings-gavagan-measure-to-floor-for.html VOTES OUT LYNCHING BILL; House Brings Gavagan Measure to Floor for Debate Today]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 19, 2023.</ref>
==Later life and death==
In 1943, Gavagan, elected to the New York Supreme Court, resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected to another term as justice on the state Supreme Court, and later died at 1968 in Bennington, Vermont. Gavagan is interred at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/G000101 Profile] at the ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7347408/joseph-andrew-gavagan Profile] at ''Find a Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gavagan, Joseph A.}}
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:New Deal]]
[[Category:Civil Rights]]
[[Category:Catholic Politicians]]
|name=Joseph Andrew Gavagan
|image=
|party=[[Democrat]]
|spouse=
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=New York
|district=21st
|terms=November 5, 1929 – December 30, 1943
|preceded=Royal H. Weller
|former=y
|succeeded=James H. Torrens
}}
{{Officeholder/misc
|office=State Assemblyman from [[New York]]'s 22nd District (New York County)
|terms=1923–1929
|preceded=Michael E. Reiburn
|former=y
|succeeded=Benjamin B. Mittler
}}
|military=y
|allegiance=[[United States]]
|rank=Second Lieutenant (active)<br>First Lieutenant (reserves)
|branch=[[United States Army]]
|unit=Quartermaster Corps
|serviceyears=1917–1919 (active)<br>1920–1925 (reserves)
|battles=[[World War I]]
|awards=
}}
'''Joseph Andrew Gavagan''' (August 20, 1892 – October 18, 1968) was a lawyer and [[Democrat]]ic politician from [[New York]] who represented the state's 21st congressional district in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] for fourteen years, previously serving in the state assembly. He rose to prominence in the [[New Deal]] years as a crusader for the enactment of federal [[anti-lynching law]], which never materialized due to a circle of senatorial Southern Democrats persistently blocking proposed bills.
==Early life and education==
Gavagan was born to a Catholic family in the "Hell's Kitchen" part of [[New York City]] on August 20, 1892. After attending both public and parochial schools, he enrolled in Fordham University, graduating from the law department in 1920 and admitted to the bar in the same year. Gavagan subsequently commenced law practice in New York City.
During [[World War I]], Gavagan served from 1917–19, enlisting as a private and later promoted within the Quartermaster Corps to second lieutenant. In the postwar years, he was a first lieutenant in the Quartermaster Reserve Corps until 1925.
==U.S. House of Representatives==
Following the death of sitting congressman Royal H. Weller, Gavagan ran for the open seat in 1929 and soundly won, defeating Republican opponent Hubert T. Delaney.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=212853 NY District 21 Special Race - Nov 05, 1929]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 19, 2023.</ref> He was subsequently reelected seven times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=80771 Candidate - Joseph A. Gavagan]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 19, 2023.</ref>
===Gavagan Anti-Lynching Bill of 1937===
:{{main|Gavagan–Van Nuys–Wagner Act}}
On April 13, 1937, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 281–108 to take up consideration, the following day, Gavagan's anti-lynching bill which would designate federal offenses for officers who enable mobs to injure and/or kill prisoners.<ref>April 13, 1937. [https://www.nytimes.com/1937/04/13/archives/votes-out-lynching-bill-house-brings-gavagan-measure-to-floor-for.html VOTES OUT LYNCHING BILL; House Brings Gavagan Measure to Floor for Debate Today]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 19, 2023.</ref>
==Later life and death==
In 1943, Gavagan, elected to the New York Supreme Court, resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected to another term as justice on the state Supreme Court, and later died at 1968 in Bennington, Vermont. Gavagan is interred at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/G000101 Profile] at the ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7347408/joseph-andrew-gavagan Profile] at ''Find a Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gavagan, Joseph A.}}
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:New Deal]]
[[Category:Civil Rights]]
[[Category:Catholic Politicians]]