Thomas Donovan
Donovan c. 1924
33rd Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
In office
January 9, 1933 – January 4, 1937
GovernorHenry Horner
Preceded byFred E. Sterling
Succeeded byJohn Henry Stelle
Personal details
Born
Thomas Fanning Donovan

(1869-12-17)December 17, 1869
Charlotte, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 17, 1946(1946-11-17) (aged 76)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Alice Aaron
​
​
(m. 1894; died 1901)​

Gertrude M. Nugent
​
(m. 1905)​
Children4
Parent(s)Patrick Donovan
Rachael Purcell
Alma materValparaiso University
ProfessionPolitician, businessman, lawyer

Thomas Fanning Donovan (December 17, 1869 – November 17, 1946) was an American politician, businessman, and lawyer.

Donovan was born in Charlotte, Illinois on a farm to parents Patrick and Rachael (Purcell) Donovan and had seven siblings. He was educated in the public schools in Chatsworth, Illinois in Livingston County, Illinois. He then received his bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University in 1893 and then taught school in Danforth, Illinois. He then studied law and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1895. He was the city attorney of Kankakee, Illinois and then was involved in the banking business in Joliet, Illinois. He also chairman of the Joliet Police and Fire Commission and was involved with the Democratic Party. In 1924, Donovan ran for Illinois attorney general and lost the election. From 1933 to 1937, Donovan served as lieutenant governor of Illinois. He died in Chicago, Illinois.[1][2][3][4]

Personal life

In 1894 Donovan married Alice Aaron. The couple had two daughters, Grace and Gertrude, before Alice died in 1901. In 1905 he married Gertrude M. Nugent and they had two sons, Thomas J. and James.[4]

Donovan was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1935-1936, Biographical Sketch of Thomas Donovan, pg. 46
  2. ^ 'Encyclopaedia of Illinois Biography, vol. III, The Century Engraving and Publishing Company: Chicago, Biographical Sketch of Thomas F. Donovan, pg. 305-307
  3. ^ 'T.F. Donovan, Long Prominent Democrat, Dies,' Chicago Tribune, November 18, 1946, pg. 22
  4. ^ a b c Townsend, Walter A. (1935). Illinois Democracy: A History of the Party and Its Representative Members - Past and Present. Democrat Historical Association, Inc. pp. 10–12. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
Party political offices Preceded byJames T. Burns Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Illinois 1924 Succeeded byThomas J. Courtney Preceded byPeter A. Waller Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois 1932 Succeeded byJohn Henry Stelle Political offices Preceded byFred E. Sterling Lieutenant Governor of Illinois 1933–1937 Succeeded byJohn H. Stelle


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