Brendan T. Byrne
| Brendan Byrne | |
|---|---|
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|
| 47th Governor of New Jersey | |
|
In office January 15, 1974 – January 19, 1982 |
|
| Preceded by | William Cahill |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Kean |
| Prosecutor of Essex County | |
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In office February 16, 1959 – January 11, 1968 |
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| Appointed by | Robert B. Meyner |
| Preceded by | Charles Webb |
| Succeeded by | Joseph P. Lordi |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Brendan Thomas Byrne April 1, 1924 West Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | January 4, 2018 (aged 93) Livingston, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Lung infection |
| Resting place | Cremated; ashes scattered in Hudson County and Pine Barrens |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Jean Featherly (m. 1953; div. 1993) Ruthi Zinn (m. 1994) |
| Children | 7 |
| Education |
Seton Hall University Princeton University (BA) Harvard University (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 U.S. Army Air Corps
|
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank |
 First Lieutenant
|
Brendan Thomas Byrne (April 1, 1924 – January 4, 2018) was an American politician, statesman, and prosecutor, serving as the 47th Governor of New Jersey from 1974 to 1982.
A member of the Democratic Party, Byrne started his career as a private attorney and worked in the New Jersey state government starting in 1955 before resuming his legal career after leaving office in 1982.
During his time as Governor, Byrne oversaw the opening of the first gambling casinos in Atlantic City and expanded the oceanside municipality's economic base, establishing the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate. He also saved a large majority of woodlands and wildlife areas in the state from development.
In the late 1970s, an FBI wiretap recorded local mobsters calling Byrne, "the man who couldn't be bought," a reference to his infamous ethical standards. The public's response to this propelled his popularity at a time when popular New Jersey politicians were being mired in corruption scandals. Byrne used the quote as the slogan for his successful re-election bid.
In 2011, Byrne was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame for his service to the state.
Byrne was born and raised in West Orange, New Jersey. He was the fourth child among five children of ethnic Irish American Catholic parents Francis A. Byrne (1886–1974), a local public safety commissioner and Genevieve Brennan Byrne (1888–1969).
In 1942, Byrne graduated from West Orange High School, where he had served as both the president of the debate club and senior class president. He briefly enrolled at Seton Hall University, only to leave in March the following year to join the U.S. Army. During World War II, Byrne served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. By the time of his discharge from active service in 1945, he had achieved the rank of lieutenant.
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