Frank Parks Briggs (February 25, 1894 – September 23, 1992) was a United States senator from Missouri, and succeeded Harry S. Truman when Truman was elected vice president.

Frank P. Briggs
United States Senator
from Missouri
In office
January 18, 1945 – January 3, 1947
Appointed byPhil M. Donnelly
Preceded byHarry S. Truman
Succeeded byJames P. Kem
Member of the Missouri Senate
In office
January 4, 1933 – 1944
Mayor of Macon, Missouri
In office
1930–1932
Personal details
Born
Frank Parks Briggs

(1894-02-25)February 25, 1894
Armstrong, Missouri, US
DiedSeptember 23, 1992(1992-09-23) (aged 98)
Macon, Missouri, US
Resting placeWalnut Ridge Cemetery, Fayette, Missouri
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Missouri
ProfessionNewspaper owner

Biography

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Frank P. Briggs was born in Armstrong, Missouri on February 25, 1894. He attended the schools of Armstrong and Fayette, and was a student at Central College from 1911 to 1914. He graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1915.

Briggs became active in the newspaper and publishing businesses in Macon, Missouri as owner of the Macon Chronicle-Herald. In addition to serving as editor and publisher, Briggs was also the author of a regular column, "It Seems to B". A Democrat, he was mayor of Macon from 1930 to 1932, and a member of the Missouri Senate from 1933 to 1944.

On January 18, 1945, Briggs was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Harry S. Truman. He served from January 18, 1945 to January 3, 1947, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the full term in 1946.

After leaving the Senate, Briggs resumed work in his newspaper and publishing businesses. He was a longtime member of the Missouri State Conservation Commission, and served four terms as its chairman. From 1961 to 1965 he was United States Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife.

Briggs sold his newspaper in 1973, after which he lived in retirement in Macon. He died at Samaritan Hospital in Macon on September 23, 1992, and was buried at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Fayette.

Family

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Briggs was married to the former Catherine Shull. They were the parents of three daughters, Ruth, Betty, Dorothy and two sons Eugene, and Tommy.

References

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  • United States Congress. "Frank P. Briggs (id: B000828)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Saxon, Wolfgang (September 25, 1992). "Frank P. Briggs, 98, a Publisher And Truman's Senate Successor". New York Times. New York, NY.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Missouri
(Class 1)

1946
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 1) from Missouri
1945–1947
Served alongside: Forrest C. Donnell
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Oldest living U.S. senator
March 14, 1989 – September 23, 1992
Succeeded by