Lawton Chiles

Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. (April 3, 1930 – December 12, 1998) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as forty-first governor of Florida from 1991 until his death in office in the last month of his term. He was the first Democratic governor in state history to have a Republican-controlled legislature.

Early life

Chiles was born in Polk County, Florida near Lakeland. There he attended public school, then went on to the University of Florida, graduating in 1952. Following his college years he went to Korea as an artillery officer in the United States Army.

Related Topics:
Polk County - Florida - Lakeland - University of Florida - 1952 - Korea - United States Army

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After the war, Chiles returned to the University of Florida for law school, graduating in 1955; he passed the state bar exam that year and went into practice in Lakeland.

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