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Richard Lewis Brewer Jr.
Member From: 1912 - 1933
- Birth Date: May 27, 1864 Birth Place:Prince George County, VA
- Death Date: April 5, 1947
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Lelia Jackson Vellines; Belle Ashburn
- Children:
- Religion:
- Education: Suffolk Military Institute
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession: Investment and insurance broker
- Memberships/Affiliations: Methodist Church Masons Knights of Pythias (former member) Elks (former member) Mayor of Suffolk (12 years) Commission from Virginia to present copy of Houdon Statue of Washington from Commonwealth of Virginia to Government of Great Britain (1921) State Board of Public Welfare Methodist Church, Virginia Conference Orphanage (president, board of trustees) Suffolk Fertilizer Company, Inc. (president) National Screen Company (director) American Bank and Trust Company, Suffolk (director) Methodist Church, Portsmouth and Newport News District (district lay leader) Uniting Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Protestant Methodist Church (delegate)
- Bio: RICHARD LEWIS BREWER JR. of Nansemond County and the City of Suffolk was the son of Richard Lewis and Judith Anne (Robinson) Brewer. His father was a superintendent of schools and the first mayor of Suffolk. He was educated at Suffolk Military Academy. He was a jeweler, and an investment and insurance broker. He served as mayor of Suffolk for twelve years. He was a member of the House of Delegates, 1912-34. He served as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from its beginning in 1914 to 1919, then as Speaker for three regular Sessions, 1920-26, but did not offer for reelection as Speaker for the remaining years of his membership. An editor, in commenting on his fine career, said, “All those who labored with him were devoted to him and for the best of reasons. His courage matched his character. Always he was reasonable, always ready to ‘hear the other side’, but the General Assembly of Virginia rarely had a man of like capacity.” He married firstly, January 28, 1892, Lelia Jackson Vellines of Isle of Wight County, and secondly, July 23, 1931, Belle Ashburn, daughter of Henry and Elmira Frances (Gardner) Asburn of Nansemond County.
While he was Speaker of the House, the Clerk was JOHN W. WILLIAMS.
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Nansemond | Democrat | Finance Manufactures and Mechanic Arts Officers and Offices at the Capitol |
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| 1914-1915 | Nansemond | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Chesapeake and its Tributaries Finance |
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| 1916 | Nansemond | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Chesapeake and its Tributaries Finance |
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| 1918-1919 | County of Nansemond | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Finance |
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| 1919 Ex. | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Finance |
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| 1920 | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
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| 1922-1923 | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
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| 1923 Ex. | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
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| 1924 | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
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| 1926-1927 | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Finance |
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| 1927 Ex. | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Finance |
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| 1928 | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Finance |
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| 1930 | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Finance Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1932-1933 | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries (Chair) Finance Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1933 Ex. | County of Nansemond; City of Suffolk | Democrat | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries (Chair) Finance Roads and Internal Navigation |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.