Luren Dudley Dickinson (April 15, 1859 – April 22, 1943) was an American politician. He served as the 37th governor of Michigan from 1939 to 1941. He was the oldest person to ever hold the position of Michigan governor, beginning his term at the age of 79 and leaving office at the age of 81.

Early life

Dickinson was born in Niagara County, New York, to Daniel Dickinson (1828–1903) and Hannah Elisabeth Dickinson (née Leavens; 1830–1916). As an infant, his family moved to Michigan. In Michigan, his family bought land and began farming. As a boy, Dickinson spent most of his time working on the family farm. However, he often studied at home and completed high school by the age of eighteen. At eighteen, he was allowed to become a teacher. He did a good job as a teacher and quickly advanced in his career. By the age of 21, he became a school principal and later a school superintendent. In 1888, he married Zora Della Cooley. They had one child by adoption: Rilla Ethel Patterson (née Dickinson). They also had a grandson, Robert Patterson, and a granddaughter, Della Patterson. Della Patterson accompanied the Governor during his time in office.

Politics

Dickinson's work in community schools made him interested in local politics. He became a member of the Republican Party and was chosen to serve in the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1897 to 1898 and again from 1905 to 1908. Later, he was elected to the Michigan Senate and served from 1909 to 1910.

After completing one term in the Senate, Dickinson was elected as the 35th lieutenant governor of Michigan in 1914 and was re-elected to this position. He spent most of his political career as lieutenant governor, winning the role seven times and losing it three times in 1924, 1932, and 1936. He also ran for the Republican nomination for governor in 1920 but lost to Alex Groesbeck, who won the general election. Dickinson worked as lieutenant governor under five governors: Woodbridge N. Ferris (1915–17), Albert Sleeper (1917–21), Fred W. Green (1927–29), Wilber Marion Brucker (1929–33), and Frank Fitzgerald (1939).

Gubernatorial succession

In 1939, current Governor Frank Fitzgerald died suddenly while in office. As a result, one month before Dickinson's 80th birthday, he became the Governor of Michigan.

As governor, he often handled state affairs at his farm near Charlotte, Michigan, instead of at the state capital in Lansing. He was known for his casual style, which included holding his swearing-in ceremony at his farm, wearing simple clothing, and continuing to do farm work during his time in office. During his twenty-one and a half months as governor, a law was passed that required public school teachers to take an oath of loyalty to the government. During his term, debates occurred about gambling and open bars, and the Michigan National Guard was used for service in World War II.

In 1940, he ran for a full term, but his campaign was made harder because of his wife's illness and her later death. He lost the election to Democrat Murray Van Wagoner.

Death

Dickinson belonged to the Grange and the Knights of Pythias. He died two years after ending his term in office at the age of eighty-four in Charlotte. He is buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery of that town.