Background
Tiernan was born in Providence, Rhode Island and attended Louisiana Salle Academy.
United States Representative from Rhode Island
Tiernan was born in Providence, Rhode Island and attended Louisiana Salle Academy.
Providence College (Bachelor of Arts). Catholic University of America (Bachelor of Laws).
He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Providence College in 1953 and his Juris Doctor from Catholic University Law School in 1956. He was admitted to the bar in 1956 and began practicing law. In 1967, he was elected to the Ninetieth Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative John East. Fogarty.
He was reelected to the Ninety-first, Ninety-second and Ninety-third Congresses, serving from March 28, 1967 to January 3, 1975.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the Ninety-fourth Congress in 1974. He served as chairman of the Commission in 1980, and after leaving the Commission he resumed the practice of law in Providence.
He served in the Rhode Island State Senate and was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He began his political career as a Democratic member of the Rhode Island State Senate in 1960 and served until 1967. From April 1975 to November 1981, he was a member of the Federal Election Commission.
Married Dorothy A. Tiernan, 1953.