Cooper entered the gubernatorial election of 1918 and won the general election without opposition to become the 93rd governor of South Carolina. He continued the progressive policies of his predecessor, Richard Irvine Manning III, by establishing a seven-month school term, mandating compulsory school attendance, expanding health care and improving the state roadways. These initiatives were paid for by stricter enforcement of existing tax laws and the revaluation of state property. Cooper was elected to a second term in 1920.
He resigned from the governorship in 1922 to accept an appointment to the Federal Farm Loan Board that lasted five years. After which, Cooper returned to the practice of law, but was called by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to serve as the General Counsel on the Commodity Credit Corporation. Roosevelt later appointed him in 1934 as Judge of the District Court for Puerto Rico, a position Cooper held until 1947. Cooper died on August 7, 1953, and was buried at the Laurens City Cemetery in Laurens.
Guillermo A. Baralt, History of the Federal Court in Puerto Rico: 1899-1999 (2004) (also published in Spanish as Historia del Tribunal Federal de Puerto Rico)
robert, archer, cooper, june, 1874, august, 1953, 93rd, governor, south, carolina, from, january, 1919, 1922, judge, united, states, district, court, district, puerto, ricoin, office, january, 1934, 1947appointed, byfranklin, rooseveltpreceded, byira, wellssuc. Robert Archer Cooper June 12 1874 August 7 1953 was the 93rd Governor of South Carolina from January 21 1919 to May 20 1922 1 Robert Archer CooperJudge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto RicoIn office January 29 1934 1947Appointed byFranklin D RooseveltPreceded byIra K WellsSucceeded byDavid Chavez93rd Governor of South CarolinaIn office January 21 1919 May 20 1922LieutenantJ T LilesWilson Godfrey HarveyPreceded byRichard Irvine Manning IIISucceeded byWilson Godfrey HarveyMember of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Laurens CountyIn office January 8 1901 January 10 1905Personal detailsBornRobert Archer Cooper 1874 06 12 June 12 1874Laurens County South CarolinaDiedAugust 7 1953 1953 08 07 aged 79 Political partyDemocraticSpouse s Mamie Eugenia Machen Dorcas CalmesChildren2 Elizabeth from his marriage with Mamie Eugenia and Robert from his marriage with Dorcas Calmes Alma materPolytechnic InstituteProfessionLawyer politicianBiography EditBorn in Waterloo Township Laurens County Cooper graduated with a law degree from Polytechnic Institute in San German Puerto Rico He was admitted to the bar in 1898 and practiced law in Laurens In 1900 Cooper was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives until 1904 when he was elected as the Solicitor of the Eighth Judicial District of South Carolina Cooper entered the gubernatorial election of 1918 and won the general election without opposition to become the 93rd governor of South Carolina He continued the progressive policies of his predecessor Richard Irvine Manning III by establishing a seven month school term mandating compulsory school attendance expanding health care and improving the state roadways These initiatives were paid for by stricter enforcement of existing tax laws and the revaluation of state property Cooper was elected to a second term in 1920 He resigned from the governorship in 1922 to accept an appointment to the Federal Farm Loan Board that lasted five years After which Cooper returned to the practice of law but was called by President Franklin D Roosevelt to serve as the General Counsel on the Commodity Credit Corporation Roosevelt later appointed him in 1934 as Judge of the District Court for Puerto Rico a position Cooper held until 1947 Cooper died on August 7 1953 and was buried at the Laurens City Cemetery in Laurens His house at Laurens is included in the South Harper Historic District added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 2 References Edit United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico Robert Archer Cooper 1874 1953 National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Guillermo A Baralt History of the Federal Court in Puerto Rico 1899 1999 2004 also published in Spanish as Historia del Tribunal Federal de Puerto Rico External links EditSCIway Biography of Robert Archer Cooper NGA Biography of Robert Archer CooperParty political officesPreceded byRichard Irvine Manning III Democratic nominee for Governor of South Carolina1918 1920 Succeeded byThomas Gordon McLeodPolitical officesPreceded byRichard Irvine Manning III Governor of South Carolina1919 1922 Succeeded byWilson Godfrey HarveyLegal officesPreceded byIra K Wells Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico1934 1947 Succeeded byDavid Chavez Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Archer Cooper amp oldid 1127844224, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
