14 Facts About Jo Byrns

Jo Byrns served as a 14-term Democratic congressman from Tennessee, and as the 41st speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Jo Byrns was named for a maternal uncle, Joseph William Green Jackson, who died in the American Civil War.

The Jo Byrns family moved to Nashville in 1885 to pursue greater educational opportunities for their children.

Jo Byrns then enrolled at Vanderbilt University, where he won honors in English and history, actively participated in debates, and became a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Jo Byrns graduated with a law degree in 1890 and soon began building up a successful law practice.

Jo Byrns displayed a strong early interest in politics and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1894 and reelected in 1896 and 1898.

In 1908, Jo Byrns received the Democratic nomination for US Representative and was elected in November of that year to a term beginning March 4,1909.

Jo Byrns served in the House for the rest of his life.

Jo Byrns was widely respected and his influence grew as his seniority did.

Jo Byrns was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 1928 to 1935.

Jo Byrns suffered a serious heart attack at his Washington home on the evening of June 4,1936.

Jo Byrns's funeral, attended by President Franklin Roosevelt and other dignitaries, was held in Nashville.

Jo Byrns was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.

Jo Byrns was a Freemason and member of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee.