James C. Shannon

James Coughlin Shannon (July 21, 1896 – March 6, 1980) was an American politician and the 77th governor of Connecticut.

Biography Shannon was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 21, 1896. He was the son of Henry E. Shannon and Ellen Coughlin Shannon. He completed his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in 1918, and completed his LL.B. degree from Yale Law School in 1921. He married Helen M. McMurray on April 15, 1925. The couple had two sons, John H., and James C. Jr.; as well as one daughter, Helen Clair Richards.

Career Shannon became Bridgeport's prosecuting attorney in 1923. He held that position for nine years. He was on the bench of the Bridgeport City and Juvenile Courts from 1931 to 1935. He was the attorney for the Connecticut Federation of Labor from 1939 to 1948. In 1948 he was a delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut. As a member of the US Navy Reserve, he served as an aviator in the U.S. Navy Air Force during World War I.

Shannon served as the 89th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1947 to 1948. James L. McConaughy, the Governor of Connecticut at the time, died on March 7, 1948. Shannon became the governor on the same day. During his term, legislation was constituted that raised old-age pension benefits. He was also successful in securing the appropriate legislation regarding housing reform measures. He was unsuccessful in his re-election bid in 1948, and left office on January 5, 1949.