Thomas Donovan (politician)

Thomas Donovan
Official portrait, 1933
33rd Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
In office
January 9, 1933  January 4, 1937
GovernorHenry Horner
Preceded byFred E. Sterling
Succeeded byJohn Henry Stelle
Personal details
Born
Thomas Fanning Donovan

(1869-12-17)December 17, 1869
Charlotte, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 17, 1946(1946-11-17) (aged 76)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Alice Aaron
(m. 1894; died 1901)

Gertrude M. Nugent
(m. 1905)
Children4
Parent(s)Patrick Donovan
Rachael Purcell
Alma materValparaiso University
ProfessionPolitician, businessman, lawyer

Thomas Fanning Donovan (December 17, 1869 November 17, 1946) was an American politician, businessman, and lawyer.

Donovan was born in Charlotte, Illinois on a farm to parents Patrick and Rachael (Purcell) Donovan and had seven siblings. He was educated in the public schools in Chatsworth, Illinois in Livingston County, Illinois. He then received his bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University in 1893 and then taught school in Danforth, Illinois. He then studied law and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1895. He was the city attorney of Kankakee, Illinois and then was involved in the banking business in Joliet, Illinois. He also chairman of the Joliet Police and Fire Commission and was involved with the Democratic Party. In 1924, Donovan ran for Illinois attorney general and lost the election. From 1933 to 1937, Donovan served as lieutenant governor of Illinois. He died in Chicago, Illinois.