Tennessee
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Tennessee Leaders &
Politicians
Albert
Gore Sr.- Born December 26, 1907 in Granville, TN. Died December
5, 1998. Tennessee State Representative and Senator, served in the
Democratic senate from 1953-1971.
Albert
Gore Jr.- Born March 31, 1948 in Washington, D.C. Raised in
Carthage, TN. US Senator 1985-1993, Was 45th Vice President of United
States in the Bill Clinton administration 1993-2001.
Alvin C. York- World War
I hero born in Pall Mall in 1887.
Andrew
Jackson- Born: March 15, 1767 in Waxhaw, South Carolina. Moved to
Tennessee as a young man and became a lawyer. Was the 7th US
president, serving two terms from 1829 to 1837. Nicknamed "Old
Hickory" due to his rough and tough behavior. Andrew Jackson died
on June 8th, 1845 in Nashville, TN at his home the
"Hermitage."
Andrew
Johnson- Born: December 29, 1808 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ran
away from home with his brother to Greeneville, TN at age 16 where he
became a tailor. He became the 17th President of the United States on
April 15, 1865, upon the death of Lincoln. Andrew Johnson died on July
31st, 1875 in Carter's Station, TN.
Benjamin
Lawson Hooks- Born January 31, 1925 in Memphis, TN. American Civil
rights leader, Baptist minister, and attorney. Former executive
director of the NAACP.
Bill Frist- Born February 22,
1952, in Nashville, TN. Republican U.S. Senate Majority leader from TN
graduated from Princeton and Harvard was a heart surgeon for 17 years.
Cordell Hull-
Born October 2nd, 1871 in Olympus, TN. Died July 23, 1955. US Senator
from 1931-1933. Appointed Secretary of State 1933, in the cabinet of
Franklin D. Roosevelt, where he served until 1944. Won Nobel Peace
Prize in 1945.
David
"Davy" Crockett- "King of the wild frontier",
Pioneer, Patriot, Soldier, Trapper, Explorer, State Legislator,
Congressman, Martyr.
Estes
Kefauver- Born in Madisonville, TN, July 26, 1903. Democrat that
served in the US House of Representatives for 10 years and in the US
Senate for 14 years. Well known for his fight against organized crime,
was the author of the famous "Kafauver Report" which listed
the names of high-profile crime bosses and members of the Mafia. Ran
for office of US Vice President for Adlai Stevenson in 1956.
Died August 10th, 1963 after suffering a massive heart attack on the
floor of the US Senate.
Fred
Thompson- Born August 19, 1943 in Sheffield, AL, moved to
Lawrenceburg, TN as a child. Former U.S. Senator (1994-2003), also
movie actor known for his roles in the movies "Hunt for Red
October," "Days of Thunder," "Die Hard 2,"
and currently starring in televisions Law & Order..
Hattie
Caraway- Born in TN in 1878 became the first woman U.S. Senator in
1931 after her husband, Arkansas Senator Thaddeus Horatius Caraway
suddenly passed away.
Howard
Baker Sr.- Born in Sommerset, KY in 1902. Moved to Knoxville, TN
in 1918. Was US Congressman representing the second district in
Congress from his election in 1950 until his unexpected death by heart
attack on January 8, 1964
Howard
Baker Jr.- Born November 15, 1925 in Huntsville, TN. Was US
Senator from 1967-1985. Is currently US Ambassador to Japan.
James K.
Polk- Born: November 2, 1795 in Mecklenburg County, North
Carolina. Moved to Nashville, TN with his family when he was 11 years
old. In 1845 at age 49, he became the youngest man to assume the
presidency up to his time. He was the 11th US President and only
served one term. Polk died on June 15th, 1849 at home in Nashville,
just 3 months after leaving office.
John Bell-
Born in Nashville, TN 1797. Served in US House of Representatives, was
appointed Secretary of War in 1841. Elected US Senator for TN in 1847.
John Sevier-
Born near Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Va., September 23, 1745,
died September 24, 1815. First Governor of Tennessee. Pioneer,
Statesman, and one of the founders of the republic, Governor of the
state of Franklin, six times Governor of Tennessee, four times elected
to Congress.
John
Duncan- Congressman from Tennessee from 1965-1988, born in Huntsville,
TN.
John
"Jimmy" Duncan Jr- Congressman from Tennessee, son of the
late Representative John Duncan, elected to take over the position after
his father's untimely death.
Lamar Alexander-
Born July 3, 1940, Maryville, TN. Was governor, university
president, and U.S. secretary of education.
Sam Houston-
Born in Rockbridge Co.,VA, March 2nd, 1793. Moved to Maryville, TN
with his family at age 14. Spent some time with the Cherokee Indians
on Hiawassee Island and was adopted by the Cherokee nation. Was a
school teacher in Maryville for 6 months, then joined the US Army to
fight in the War of 1812. Opened a legal practice in Nashville and was
made attorney general. Was a US congressman for 4 years and governor
of TN for one year. Later moved to Texas and became governor of TX in
1859. Is the only person in US history to be governor of two different
states. Died July 26, 1863.
William
Blount- Born near Windsor, Bertie County, N.C., March 26, 1749.
First US Senator representing the state of Tennessee. Delegate to the
convention that framed the Federal Constitution in 1787. Named the
city of Knoxville in honor of President Washington's War Secretary,
Henry Knox. Died in Knoxville, Tenn., March 21, 1800.
