John Stuchell Fisher

For other people named John Fisher, see John Fisher (disambiguation).

John Stuchell Fisher
29th Governor of Pennsylvania
In office January 18, 1927 – January 20, 1931
Lieutenant	Arthur James
Preceded by	Gifford Pinchot
Succeeded by	Gifford Pinchot
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 37th district
In office January 1, 1901 – May 16, 1907
Preceded by	James Mitchell
Succeeded by	Theodore Kurtz
Personal details
Born	(1867-05-25)May 25, 1867 South Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania
Died	June 25, 1940(1940-06-25) (aged 73) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Profession	Teacher, Politician

John Stuchell Fisher (May 25, 1867 – June 25, 1940) was Pennsylvania's 29th Governor, a Republican.

Life and career

Fisher was born in South Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania, in 1867. Fisher graduated from Pennsylvania's Indiana State Normal School (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) and began his career as a teacher; he then served as principal for schools in Plumville and Indiana, Pennsylvania.

In 1893, Fisher finished his law degree, was admitted into the Pennsylvania Bar, and set up a private practice. He won his first major office, to the Pennsylvania State Senate, in 1900, and was re-elected in 1904. He did not seek re-election in 1908, but he would go on to serve on the state's Commission on Constitutional Revision, and from 1919 to 1922 as State Commissioner of Banking. He rose to the Governor's office in 1927.

As governor, Fisher focused on fiscal policy, public works, and conservation. Partly due to his efforts to eliminate voting fraud, the state began using voting machines. The Department of Revenue was established during his term. Fisher's term was marked by a major investment in public works, most notably the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge in Harrisburg. Also during Fisher’s administration, nearly 500,000 acres (2,000 km²) were added to Pennsylvania’s state forests.

After leaving office, Fisher became a consultant to his son’s law firm. He would also serve on the boards of several financial establishments as well as Indiana Hospital, the State Normal School in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania State College. He died in Pittsburgh in 1940.

Sources

• National Governors Association
• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
• ExplorePAHistory.com
• William Ainsworth Cornell, The Political Career of John S. Fisher, Governor of Pennsylvania 1927-1931 (Indiana, Pennsylvania: MA thesis: State Teachers College, 1947).

Political offices
Preceded by Gifford Pinchot	Governor of Pennsylvania 1927–1931	Succeeded by Gifford Pinchot
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by James Mitchell	Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 37th District 1901–1907	Succeeded by Theodore Kurtz
Party political offices
Preceded by Gifford Pinchot	Republican nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania 1926	Succeeded by Gifford Pinchot