Merlin Hull

Merlin Gray Hull (December 18, 1870 – May 17, 1953) was an American politician, lawyer, and newspaper publisher who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin.^[1] Hull first served as a Republican in the 7th district from 1929 until 1931, after being defeated for re-nomination in 1930. He later served as a Progressive in the 9th district from 1935 until 1946, when he rejoined the Republican party and served as representative until his death in 1953.

Merlin Gray Hull
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin
In office January 3, 1935 – May 17, 1953
Preceded by	James A. Frear
Succeeded by	Lester Johnson
Constituency	9th district
In office March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1931
Preceded by	Joseph D. Beck
Succeeded by	Gardner R. Withrow
Constituency	7th district
20th Secretary of State of Wisconsin
In office January 1, 1917 – January 3, 1921
Governor	Emanuel L. Philipp
Preceded by	John S. Donald
Succeeded by	Fred R. Zimmerman
45th Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office January 6, 1913 – January 4, 1915
Preceded by	Charles A. Ingram
Succeeded by	Lawrence C. Whittet
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Jackson County district
In office January 4, 1909 – January 4, 1915
Preceded by	John F. Baker
Succeeded by	B. L. Van Gorden
Personal details
Born	(1870-12-18)December 18, 1870 Farina, Illinois, U.S.
Died	May 17, 1953(1953-05-17) (aged 82) La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Republican Wisconsin Progressive Party

Born in Farina, Illinois to John and Adelia Hull, Merlin Hull was a graduate of Gale College, De Pauw University, and Columbian University (now George Washington University Law School). He was admitted to the bar in 1894 and commenced practice in Black River Falls. He served as publisher of the Jackson County Journal from 1904 to 1926 and of the merged Banner-Journal for the rest of his life. He served as district attorney of Jackson County from 1907 to 1909; he was a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1909 to 1915, serving as speaker in the 1913-15 session; he was elected Secretary of State in 1916, serving until 1921.

Hull was first elected (as a Republican) to the Seventy-first Congress in 1928. He represented Wisconsin's 7th congressional district. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1930 and an unsuccessful independent candidate in 1932. In 1934, Hull was once again elected to the House of Representatives this time as part of the Seventy-fourth Congress. He was elected as a member of the Progressive Party and represented Wisconsin's 9th congressional district. He was reelected to this post for the succeeding nine congresses, as a member of the Progressive Party for the first six and after the disbanding of the Wisconsin Progressive Party, as a Republican to the other four, serving continuously from January 3, 1935, until his death from pulmonary complications following surgery in La Crosse, Wisconsin on May 17, 1953.^[2]

Electoral history

Wisconsin assembly (1908–1912)

Wisconsin Secretary of state (1916, 1918)

Wisconsin Governor (1920)

U.S. House, 7th district (1924–1932)

U.S. House, 9th district (1934–1952)

See also

• List of secretaries of state of Wisconsin
• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–1999)