Frank Orren Lowden (January 26 1861– March 20 1943) was an American political figure. Born in Sunrise Township, Minnesota, he lived in Iowa from the age of 7 until his graduation from Iowa State University in 1885. He graduated from Chicago, Illinois' Union College of Law in 1887, and was admitted to the bar the same year. His wife, Florence, was the daughter of George Pullman. He died in Tucson, Arizona and is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

Political career

He was a Congressional representative from Illinois, from 1906 until 1911.

He was the Governor of Illinois from 1917 to 1921, during which he won wide notice for the major reorganization of state government he spearheaded. He was a leading candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 1920, but the delegates deadlocked over several ballots between Lowden and General Leonard Wood, resulting in party leaders meeting privately to determine a compromise candidate. Their choice, Warren G. Harding, went on to win the nomination. In 1924 he declined the Republican nomination for Vice President. In 1928 he again positioned himself to run for the party's nomination, but he was never much more than a minor threat to front runner Herbert Hoover, who went on to win the convention and the election.

Railroad career

In 1933, Lowden was appointed to be one of three receivers for the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. He served in this capacity, until his own death in 1943, with co-receivers Joseph B. Fleming and James E. Gorman (who had been president of the railroad since 1917).

Legacy

The following are named after Governor Lowden: Camp Lowden Boy Scout Camp, Lowden State Park and Lowden-Miller State Forest, all near Oregon, Illinois; and two Lowden Halls, located on the campus of the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, IL and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.

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