Austin Peay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 35th Governor of Tennessee | |
| In office January 16, 1923 – October 2, 1927 | |
| Preceded by | Alfred A. Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Henry H. Horton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1, 1876 Christian County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | October 2, 1927 (aged 51) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Resting place | Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Tennessee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sallie Hurst (m. 1895)[1] |
| Alma mater | Centre College |
| Profession | Attorney |
Austin Peay (/piː/; June 1, 1876 – October 2, 1927) was an American politician who served as the 35th governor of Tennessee from 1923 to 1927. He was the state's first governor since the Civil War to win three consecutive terms and the first to die in office.[1] Prior to his election as governor, he served two terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives (1901–1905).
As governor, Peay consolidated government agencies, overhauled the tax code, improved higher education, expanded the state highway system, and converted a $3 million state debt into a budget surplus.[2] He created Tennessee's first state park and assured the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. During his tenure, the balance of power in state politics shifted from the state legislature to the governor.[1]
In 1925, Peay signed the Butler Act into law. The law barred the teaching of the theory of evolution in public schools and led to the Scopes Trial.[2]