Quick Facts
Biography
Joseph Emile Harley (September 14, 1880 – February 27, 1942) was the 100th Governor of South Carolina from 1941 to 1942 and a member of the "Barnwell Ring."
Early life and education
Harley was born September 14, 1880 in Williston, South Carolina.
Harley received an LLB from the University of South Carolina in 1902.
He married Agnes Richardson.
Occupations
Harley served as a Colonel in the South Carolina National Guard and as sergeant of Company L, 1st SC Volunteers in the Spanish–American War.
He also worked as a lawyer.
Democratic Party Activities
- Member of the Democratic National Conventions at Denver in 1908
- Member of the Democratic National Conventions at San Francisco in 1920
- Member of the Democratic National Conventions at Houston in 1928
- Member of the Democratic National Conventions at Chicago in 1932
Elected positions
- South Carolina House of Representatives, 1905–1909, 1927–1931
- Mayor of Barnwell, South Carolina, 1912–1922
- The 74th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, 1934–1941
Governor
Harley became Governor of South Carolina on November 4, 1941, upon the resignation of Governor Burnet Maybank who was elected to serve in the US Senate.
On February 27, 1942, Governor Harley died in office after having served only four months. He died of terminal throat cancer. The Governor could only communicate by writing in the last months of his life. He is buried in Baptist Cemetery, Barnwell, South Carolina.