Quick Facts
Biography
John Lesinski Sr. (January 3, 1885 – May 27, 1950) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was the father of John Lesinski Jr., who took his seat in the United States House of Representatives upon his father's death. Lesinski was of Polish descent.
Life and career
Lesinski was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and moved three months later with his parents to Detroit, Michigan. He attended the school of St. Albertus Roman Catholic Church, SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, and Detroit Business University. He engaged extensively in the building and real estate business in Detroit; established lumber and supply companies in Hamtramck and Dearborn areas of Detroit. He was president of the Polish Citizens’ Committee of Detroit, 1919–1932; State commissioner in charge of the sale of Polish bonds in 1920; awarded the Polonia Restituta by the Polish Government. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1936, 1940, and 1944. He was also a delegate to the Democratic State conventions in 1936, 1940, and 1944.
In 1932, Lesinski was elected as a Democrat and the first person to represent Michigan's 16th congressional district to the 73rd United States Congress, and was reelected to the eight succeeding Congresses, serving in the U.S. House from March 4, 1933, until his death in Dearborn.
He served as chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions in the 74th through 79th Congresses; of the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization in the 79th Congress, and of the Committee on Education and Labor in the 81st Congress.
Lesinski was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.