Martin, Joseph William, Jr. (1884-1968), a Republican from Massachusetts, served in the United States House of Representatives from 1925 to 1967. He was speaker of the House from 1947 to 1949 and from 1953 to 1955. Martin served as the Republican leader in the House for 20 years–from 1939 until Charles A. Halleck of Indiana replaced him in 1959. A skillful leader, Martin was noted for keeping in touch with the voters in his district. He was permanent chairman of the Republican national conventions of 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, and 1956.
Martin was born in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. He started work as a newspaper reporter. He became a newspaper publisher in 1908 when he bought the North Attleboro Evening Chronicle. He went into politics in 1912.
