James E. McVann

James E. McVann
official portrait, circa 1921
Mayor of Peabody, Massachusetts
In office
1935–1939
Preceded byJ. Leo Sullivan
Succeeded byJoseph B. O'Keefe
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 11th Essex district
In office
1921–1922
Preceded byHenry F. Duggan
Succeeded byJohn A. Jones
In office
1919
Preceded byWilliam H. Mahoney
Succeeded byHenry F. Duggan
Member of the Peabody City Council
In office
1950–1962
Personal details
Born(1891-12-24)December 24, 1891
Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJuly 31, 1970(1970-07-31) (aged 78)
Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materNortheastern College
OccupationLawyer

James Edward McVann (December 24, 1891 – July 31, 1970) was an American attorney and politician who served as mayor of Peabody, Massachusetts and was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Early life

McVann was born on December 24, 1891. He was educated in the Peabody public schools and graduated from Northeastern College.[1] He studied law in the office of Frank E. Farnham and was admitted to the bar in 1916. In 1918 he formed a partnership with Farnham's son, Horace P. Farnham. On January 19, 1919, McVann married Helen G. Regan, a Salem, Massachusetts public school teacher.[2]

Politics

McVann represented the 11th Essex district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the 1919 and 1921–1922 legislatures.[1] He was the runner up to J. Leo Sullivan in the 1930 and 1932 mayoral elections.[3][4] Sullivan did not run in 1934 and McVann defeated former mayor Robert A. Bakeman and Charles V. Cassidy by a wide margin to become mayor.[5] In 1936, he beat leather worker Joseph B. O'Keefe by 58 votes to win a second term.[6] He did not run for reelection in 1938.[7] From 1950 to 1962, McVann was a member of the Peabody city council.[8][9]

McVann died on July 31, 1970, at his home in Peabody. He was survived by his wife and three children.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1921-22. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  2. ^ Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1922. pp. 224–225. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Mayor Sullivan Wins Another Peabody Term". The Boston Globe. December 3, 1930.
  4. ^ "Reelect Mayor at Primaries". The Boston Globe. November 16, 1932.
  5. ^ "McVann Automatically Becomes Peabody Mayor". The Boston Globe. November 14, 1934.
  6. ^ "Mayor McVann Wins by 58 Votes in Peabody". The Boston Globe. December 9, 1936.
  7. ^ "O'Keefe, Murphy Win in Peabody". The Boston Globe. November 16, 1938.
  8. ^ "Peabody". The Boston Globe. January 3, 1950.
  9. ^ a b "Atty. McVann". The Boston Globe. August 2, 1970.