Russell McWhortor Cunningham

Russell McWhortor Cunningham ( born August 25, 1855 in Mount Hope, Lawrence County, Alabama, † June 6, 1921 in Birmingham, Alabama ) was an American politician and from 1904 to 1905 governor of Alabama. Cunningham was a member of the Democratic Party.

Early years

Russell Cunningham attended the schools of his home and taught at the age of 17 years. He studied medicine, graduated in 1879 at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and in 1881, admitted to the doctor at the Alabama State Penitentiary, a reformatory. At the time he also moved Wetumpka. He then worked in 1885 as a physician and surgeon for the Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company and as a doctor for the Alabama Steel and Ship Building Company.

Political career

Cunningham began his political career in 1880 in the House of Representatives from Alabama, where he worked until 1881. He was also the 1896-1900 Member of the Senate of Alabama in 1899 and its chairman. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1901, and Lieutenant Governor of Alabama 1901-1904.

Cunningham took over his duties because of the failure of Governor William D. Jelks, of his duties as governor could no longer perform because of a serious illness, on 25 April 1904. He had almost ten months held the official duties and resigned on March 5, 1905, returned as Governor Jelks in his office. Cunningham was deputy governor again and remained so until 1907.

He failed his candidacy in the Democratic primary in 1906 for the governorship.

Further CV

Cunningham returned to his medical practice back in Ensley, and was elected in 1914 for the first medical officer of Birmingham. He died on 6 June 1921 and was buried at the Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham. Cunningham was married twice and that with Sue L. Moore, as well as with Annice Taylor. The result of these compounds was a child.