Crump, Edward Hull, 1876-1954, American politician, Democratic boss of Tennessee, b. near Holly Springs, Miss. At first (1905-9) a municipal administrator in Memphis, Tenn., he was later mayor (1909-16, 1939-41) and Congressman (1931-35) from Tennessee. Meanwhile, he built an efficient political machine that dominated the state elections. Crump's boss rule was upset in the 1948 Tennessee Democratic primaries, when his favored candidates for Senator and governor were beaten.