James Gillett

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
James Norris Gillett
1st
district
In office
January 4, 1897 – January 1, 1901
Preceded byFrank McGowan
Succeeded byThomas H. Selvage
Personal details
Born(1860-09-20)September 20, 1860
Viroqua, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedApril 20, 1937(1937-04-20) (aged 76)
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Adelaide Pratt, Isabella Erzgraber
Children7
ProfessionLawyer, politician

James Norris Gillett (September 20, 1860 – April 20, 1937) was an American

from January 9, 1907, to January 3, 1911.

Biography

James Gillett was born in Viroqua, Wisconsin, on September 20, 1860. As a young child, Gillett moved with his parents to Sparta, Wisconsin, at the age of five. He remained in Sparta for nearly fifteen years, attending the town's grammar and high school. In 1881, Gillett was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar and began a law practice in Sparta shortly afterwards. In the early 1880s, Gillett permanently relocated out of his native Wisconsin for the West, living briefly in both the Montana Territory and Washington Territory before moving to California. He settled in Eureka in 1884.[1]

Once in Eureka, Gillett joined the

Sinophobic riots in Eureka.[2] Following the end of his state military service, Gillett quickly resumed his career as a lawyer. In 1890, Gillett became the Eureka City Attorney, holding the position until 1895.[3]

By the mid-1890s, Gillett had become interested in state politics. Running as a

Santa Cruz
in August 1885.

Gillett's success in Washington was noticed by state Republicans and lobbyists for the

William Herrin, persuaded the attending Republican delegates to refuse Pardee renomination, instead handing the nomination to the railroad-friendly Gillett.[5]
In response to their support, Gillett promised the Southern Pacific waterfront patronage.

The denying of Pardee's renomination caused immediate controversy and outrage. Pardee, due to his efficient bureaucracy and direction of the state government's response to the

direct primary
law in the state.

Despite his highly controversial nomination, Gillett would win the governorship in the 1906 general elections, defeating

Independence League. Langdon's strong third place showing of 14.4% sapped votes away from both the popular contenders Gillett and Bell, yet enough to tip the balance in Gillett's favor.[6]

Following his successful election, Gillett resigned from his

U.S. House
seat.

Governorship

Inaugurated on January 9, 1907, as the 22nd

direct primary, though remained vague on his support for any such law.[7] Gillett also included within his agenda the expansion of harbors, especially in the case of the Port of San Francisco following the 1906 firestorm, to keep up with the state's expanding commerce and ongoing population boom. Gillett also pushed bills through the Legislature to create state measures assisting federal food safety laws, particularly for the expanding fruit and California wine
industries.

Harrison Act. In 1909, Gillett passed the state's first eugenics law, making it legal for state officials to sterilize mental patients considered clinically insane, prisoners exhibiting sexual or moral perversions, and anyone with more than three criminal convictions.[8] The law was passed unanimously in the Assembly, and had one dissenting vote in the Senate. Some 19,000 people were sterilized between 1909 and 1950, when eugenics became generally disfavored by the medical profession due to its connections with Nazi Germany
.

As

automobiles became more common along California's roads, Gillett agreed with the Legislature to pass the State Highway Bond Act of 1909. The act, which created a bond worth $18 million, effectively established the California state highway system.[9]
The system would collectively organize state roads, numbering them sequentially, and provide greater funds for maintenance and expansion.

Gillett's governorship, however, remained continually marred with controversy due to his Republican nomination by

Republican ranks, culminating in the election of Hiram Johnson
and a large number of like-minded Progressive state legislators in the 1910 elections.

By 1910, Gillett was falling quickly into financial trouble, and decided not to seek re-election. Privately, however, it is believed that his wife, Isabella, did not want Gillett to continue the governorship.[11]

Post governorship

Following his departure from the Governor's Office, Gillett opened a law practice in

U.S. federal government in the Bering Sea
between 1886 and 1894.

Gillett retired from the law practice in 1929, only to begin a new practice in 1934 in Oakland with his son, James Gillett Jr.

Gillett died April 20, 1937, in Berkeley at the age of 76.

References

  1. ^ "Guide to the James Norris Gillett Collection, 1880-1971". California State Library. 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  2. ^ "Californians and the Military: James Norris Gillett". California State Military Museum. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  3. ^ a b "Gillett, James Norris, (1860-1937)". Biographical Directory to the United States Congress. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  4. ^ "S. Doc. 58-1 - Fifty-eighth Congress. (Extraordinary session -- beginning November 9, 1903.) Official Congressional Directory for the use of the United States Congress. Compiled under the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing by A.J. Halford. Special edition. Corrections made to November 5, 1903". GovInfo.gov. U.S. Government Printing Office. 9 November 1903. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b "The Direct Primary, A Critical Step for California Progressivism". Steve Brady, San Francisco State University. 1995. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  6. ^ "November 6, 1906 General Election Results". JoinCalifornia.org. 1906-11-06. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  7. ^ James N. Gillett (January 9, 1907). "Inaugural Address". The Governors' Gallery. California State Library. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  8. ^ Abate, Tom (March 10, 2003). "State's little-known history of shameful science California's role in Nazis' goal of 'purification.'". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  9. ^ "About Caltrans". California Department of Transportation. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  10. ^ "The Schwarzenegger Phenomenon: A Leader for Hyperpluralistic Times—And More" (PDF). Pat Brown Institute. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  11. ^ "Culbert Olson 1939 - 1943". The Governors' Gallery. California State Library. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Guide to the James Norris Gillett Collection, 1880-1971". California State Library. 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-07.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Governor of California
1907–1911
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Frank L. Coombs
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 1st
district

March 4, 1903 – November 4, 1906
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for
Governor of California

1906
Succeeded by