Background
Shannon was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 21, 1896 son of Henry E. Shannon and Ellen Coughlin Shannon.
governor of Connecticut politician
Shannon was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 21, 1896 son of Henry E. Shannon and Ellen Coughlin Shannon.
He completed his bachelor"s degree from Georgetown University in 1918. He then completed his Bachelor of Laws degree from Yale Law School in 1921.
The couple had two sons, John H., and Junior. As well as one daughter, Helen Clair Richards. 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. Shannon served as the 69th 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 1949.
He left office on January 5, 1949. After leaving office, Shannon was on the bench of the Connecticut Superior Court from 1953 to 1965.
He also was an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1965 to 1966. Shannon died in Fairfield on March 6, 1980, aged 83.
He is interred in Oaklawn Cemetery, Fairfield, Connecticut.
As a member of the United States Navy Reserve, he served as an aviator in the United States. Navy Air Force during World War I.
He was a member of Republican National Committee from Connecticut in 1952.
