Joseph A. A. Burnquist


Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist 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 . Burnquist returned to serve as Minnesota Attorney General from January 2, 1939 until January 3, 1955.

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.
After a brief time practicing law in St. Paul, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1909 to 1912.

Political career

Governor of Minnesota

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.

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.

Personal life

Burnquist was married on January 1, 1906 to Mary Louise Cross. Burnquist died in Minneapolis at the age of 81.

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