John Sammon McKiernan
62nd Governor of Rhode Island
In office December 19, 1950 – January 2, 1951
Lieutenant	Vacant
Preceded by	John O. Pastore
Succeeded by	Dennis J. Roberts
55th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
In office October 6, 1945 – January 1957
Governor	John O. Pastore Dennis J. Roberts
Preceded by	John O. Pastore None – himself before vacant
Succeeded by	Vacant Armand H. Cote
Personal details
Born	(1911-10-15)October 15, 1911 Providence, Rhode Island
Died	March 9, 1997(1997-03-09) (aged 85) East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Notre Dame (BA) Boston University (LLB)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1943–1944
Battles/wars	World War II

John Sammon McKiernan (October 15, 1911 – March 9, 1997) was an American politician who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1947 to 1950 and 1951–1956 and briefly the 62nd Governor of Rhode Island (1950–1951).

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, McKiernan graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1934 and from Boston University School of Law in 1937.

After graduating from law school, he went on to run his own law practice. and serve as legal advisor to the Providence Civil Service Commission as well as chairman of the Providence Fair Rents Committee in 1941.

In 1942 and 1943 he served as the first Assistant City Solicitor for Providence. After a break caused by his service in the US Army he retook this post.

He was elected the lieutenant governor in November 1946 and took office in January 1947. The governor at the time was John O. Pastore, a fellow Democrat. He was re-elected lieutenant governor in 1948.

As lieutenant governor and presiding officer of the state Senate in 1949, McKiernan cast the tie-breaking vote that resulted in the adoption of new rules effectively giving Democrats control of the Senate's legislative committees for the first time in more than a decade. He was re-elected to a third term as lieutenant governor in November 1950.

After Governor Pastore left office early to become a United States senator, following a special election to replace Senator J. Howard McGrath who was appointed United States Attorney General, McKiernan became governor and served for only 15 days from December 19, 1950, to January 2, 1951. His was the shortest term as governor in the history of Rhode Island. He resumed the office of lieutenant governor on January 2, 1951, under administration of another Democrat, Governor Dennis J. Roberts.

After winning re-election in 1952 and 1954, McKiernan resigned as lieutenant governor in 1956 to accept an appointment as an associate justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court.

A Roman Catholic, he was married to Elizabeth St. Pierre. He is survived by his four children, Mary E. McKiernan, John S. McKiernan III, William P. McKiernan and Laura E. McKiernan.

• NGA Official biography