Thomas Granville Burch (July 3, 1869 – March 20, 1951) was an American farmer, tobacco manufacturer, and politician from Martinsville, Virginia. He represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1931 until 1946. In 1946 he served as a U.S. Senator after Carter Glass died in office until a successor was elected.

Thomas Granville Burch
United States Senator
from Virginia
In office
May 31, 1946 – November 5, 1946
Appointed byWilliam M. Tuck
Preceded byCarter Glass
Succeeded byA. Willis Robertson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1931 – May 31, 1946
At-large: March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935
Preceded byJoseph Whitehead
Succeeded byThomas B. Stanley
Personal details
Born(1869-07-03)July 3, 1869
Henry County, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMarch 20, 1951(1951-03-20) (aged 81)
Martinsville, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

Biography

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Burch was born near the community of Dyer's Store in Henry County, Virginia. Early in his life, he worked as a farmer and for a tobacco manufacturing company. After his move to Martinsville, where he was elected mayor, Burch worked in banking, and later in the real estate and insurance businesses, owning a business devoted to both. Burch was elected as a Democrat to the 72nd Congress in 1931, and served until May 1946, when he was appointed to the United States Senate.[1] Thomas 'Tom' Burch was married April 22, 1903 to Mary Ellen Anson, the daughter of Rev. Alfred W. Anson, an Episcopal priest born at Windsor Castle, son of Hon. Rev. Frederick Anson.

On March 20, 1951, Burch died of a heart attack in Martinsville and was buried in the city's Oakwood Cemetery.[2]

Elections

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  • 1930; Burch was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed.
  • 1932; Burch was re-elected with the Democratic slate in Virginia's at-large Congressional district, he won 8.29% in a 24-way race.
  • 1934; Burch was re-elected with 88.18% of the vote, defeating Republican Henry P. Wilder and Socialist Ira C. Wentz.
  • 1936; Burch was re-elected with 64.96% of the vote, defeating Republican Taylor G. Vaughan.
  • 1938; Burch was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1940; Burch was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1942; Burch was re-elected with 93.14% of the vote, defeating Socialist Howard Hearnes Carwile.
  • 1944; Burch was re-elected with 84.61% of the vote, defeating now-Independent Carwile.

References

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  1. ^ "BURCH, Thomas Granville, (1869 - 1951)". Congress. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  2. ^ Tarter, Brent. "Thomas Granville Burch (1869–1951)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th congressional district

1931–1933
Succeeded by
District abolished
Himself after district re-established in 1935
Preceded by
District re-established
John S. Wise before district abolished in 1885
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's at-large congressional seat

1933–1935
Succeeded by
District abolished
Preceded by
District re-established
Himself before district abolished in 1933
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th congressional district

1935–1946
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 2) from Virginia
1946
Served alongside: Harry F. Byrd
Succeeded by