Representative Thomas Cunningham Cochran

Thomas Cunningham Cochran (November 30, 1877 – December 10, 1957) was an American lawyer and Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, serving four consecutive terms from 1927 to 1935. Over the course of his congressional career, he participated actively in the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his Pennsylvania constituents in the House of Representatives.

Cochran was born on November 30, 1877, in Sandy Creek Township, Pennsylvania, near Sheakleyville. In 1879 he moved with his parents to Mercer, Pennsylvania, where he was raised and educated. He graduated from Mercer High School in 1896 and went on to attend Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, receiving his degree in 1901. While at Westminster, he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, an affiliation that reflected his early engagement in collegiate and civic life.

Following his graduation, Cochran embarked on a brief career in education. He served on the faculty of Mercer Academy in 1902 and 1903, contributing to the instruction of local students. During this period he also began the study of law, preparing for a profession that would shape the rest of his public life. In 1903 he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Mercer, Pennsylvania, establishing himself as a local attorney.

Cochran quickly entered public service through the legal profession. He was elected district attorney of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, serving from 1906 to 1909. In this capacity he was responsible for prosecuting criminal cases and advising county officials, gaining experience in public administration and legal procedure. He also maintained a long-standing relationship with his alma mater, serving as a trustee of Westminster College, a role that underscored his continuing interest in higher education and community affairs.

Building on his legal and local public service experience, Cochran was elected as a Republican to the Seventieth Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1927, to January 3, 1935. As a member of the House of Representatives during a transformative era that included the late 1920s and the early years of the Great Depression, he contributed to the legislative process and took part in the democratic governance of the nation. Throughout his four terms, he represented Pennsylvania’s interests in national debates and policymaking. He chose not to be a candidate for renomination in 1934, thus concluding his congressional service at the end of his fourth term.

During and after his years in Congress, Cochran was active in international parliamentary and diplomatic circles. He served as a delegate to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conferences in Paris, France, in 1927; Berlin, Germany, in 1928; Geneva, Switzerland, in 1929; London, England, in 1930; and Istanbul, Turkey, in 1934. In later years he continued this involvement as an observer at Inter-Parliamentary Union meetings in Oslo, Norway, in 1939; Istanbul in 1951; and Washington, D.C., in 1953. These assignments reflected his engagement with international dialogue and legislative cooperation beyond the borders of the United States.

After leaving Congress, Cochran resumed the practice of law in Mercer, returning to the profession with which he had begun his public career. He remained a prominent figure in his community and continued his association with educational and civic institutions. Thomas Cunningham Cochran died in Mercer, Pennsylvania, on December 10, 1957. He was interred in Mercer Citizens Cemetery, closing a life marked by legal practice, public office, and participation in both national and international parliamentary affairs.