James Byrnes (1879-1972)

James "Jimmie" Byrnes was born in Charleston, South Carolina in May 1879. He read law before becoming a lawyer. From 1911-41, with the exception of six years, Byrnes served in the United States House of Representatives (7 terms) and the United States Senate (10 years). In 1941, FDR nominated Associate Justice Harlan Fiske Stone to the position of Chief Justice, and asked Senator Byrnes to take Stone's seat on the Court. Byrnes spent one year on the Court. He wrote sixteen opinions, all of which were majority opinions. Shortly after Byrnes joined the Court, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and the United States entered World War II. Within a year of the bombing, FDR asked Byrnes to become the director of economic stabilization. Byrnes then became the head of the War Mobilization Board. Byrnes later served Harry S Truman as Secretary of State, and became Governor of South Carolina in 1952.

Byrnes died in April 1972, a month shy of his 93rd birthday.

Further reading: James F. Byrnes, All in One Lifetime (19??).