Byron N. Scott
Encyclopedia
Byron Nicholson Scott was an American
lawyer
and politician
. The Democrat
Scott served as the second United States Representative
for California's 18th congressional district
for two terms, from 1935 to 1939.
in Morris County, Kansas
. He was raised in Council Grove, and went through the town's public school system. He went to the University of Kansas at Lawrence
, and graduated from the school in 1924. After graduating, Scott became a teacher in Tucson, Arizona
and taught there until 1926. Afterwards, he moved to go teach at public schools in Long Beach, California
. During the while, he went to the University of Southern California
where he obtained is Masters degree in 1930. He taught in Long Beach until 1934, when he got involved in politics.
Democratic state convention in 1934. Scott also ran for the United States House of Representatives
seat for California's recently-formed 18th congressional district
. After getting the Democratic nomination, he ran against Republican William Brayton. Scott defeated Brayton by capturing 56.3% of the vote, in comparison to his 43.2%. From June 23, 1936 to June 27, 1936, he served as a delegate in the Democratic National Convention
held at Convention Hall
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, in which they renominated Franklin D. Roosevelt
to be the presidential candidate, and John Nance Garner
as his vice-presidential running mate. Later that year, Scott ran for re-election as the representative for the 18th district, and easily defeated Republican challenger James F. Collins by more than 18,000 votes in a 58.9%-41.0% majority.
In the 1938 House elections, Scott was challenged by Thomas M. Eaton
. In a close race, Eaton squeezed past Scott by a mere 342 vote, or 0.3% margin. For the next two years, he served as the secretary of the California state Highway Commission. Scott again ran for the seat in 1940, but lost to Republican challenger Ward Johnson by a nearly 10% majority. After spending 1941 and 1942 in the construction
business
, Scott served on Roosevelt's World War II
War Production Board
in Washington, D.C.
until the end of the war in 1945. Scott spent the next few years pursuing his Bachelor of Laws
degree from the National University School of Law, and after graduating in 1949, he was admitted to the bar in Washington, D.C. where he started up his practice
. He retired from his law practice in 1979, and lived as a resident of Sun City, California
until his death on December 21, 1991 at the age of 88.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. The Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Scott served as the second United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district is located in the northern San Joaquin Valley and includes the cities of Modesto, Stockton, Ceres, Atwater, Merced and Los Banos...
for two terms, from 1935 to 1939.
Background
Scott was born on March 21, 1903 in Council GroveCouncil Grove, Kansas
Council Grove is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States. It was named after an agreement between European Americans and the Osage Nation about allowing settlers' wagon trains to pass through the area and proceed to the West. Pioneers gathered at a grove of trees so that wagons could band...
in Morris County, Kansas
Morris County, Kansas
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 5,923. The largest city and county seat is Council Grove.-19th century:...
. He was raised in Council Grove, and went through the town's public school system. He went to the University of Kansas at Lawrence
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, and graduated from the school in 1924. After graduating, Scott became a teacher in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
and taught there until 1926. Afterwards, he moved to go teach at public schools in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. During the while, he went to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
where he obtained is Masters degree in 1930. He taught in Long Beach until 1934, when he got involved in politics.
Politics
Scott first served as a delegate to the CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Democratic state convention in 1934. Scott also ran for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
seat for California's recently-formed 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district is located in the northern San Joaquin Valley and includes the cities of Modesto, Stockton, Ceres, Atwater, Merced and Los Banos...
. After getting the Democratic nomination, he ran against Republican William Brayton. Scott defeated Brayton by capturing 56.3% of the vote, in comparison to his 43.2%. From June 23, 1936 to June 27, 1936, he served as a delegate in the Democratic National Convention
1936 Democratic National Convention
The 1936 Democratic National Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from June 23 to 27, 1936. The convention resulted in the re-nomination of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Vice President John Nance Garner....
held at Convention Hall
Convention Hall
Convention Hall was a convention center in Kansas City, Missouri that hosted the 1900 Democratic National Convention and 1928 Republican National Convention.It was designed by Frederick E...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, in which they renominated Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to be the presidential candidate, and John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner, IV , was the 32nd Vice President of the United States and the 44th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives .- Early life and family :...
as his vice-presidential running mate. Later that year, Scott ran for re-election as the representative for the 18th district, and easily defeated Republican challenger James F. Collins by more than 18,000 votes in a 58.9%-41.0% majority.
In the 1938 House elections, Scott was challenged by Thomas M. Eaton
Thomas M. Eaton
Thomas Marion Eaton served briefly as a U.S. Representative from California in 1939.Born on a farm near Edwardsville, Illinois, Eaton attended the public schools....
. In a close race, Eaton squeezed past Scott by a mere 342 vote, or 0.3% margin. For the next two years, he served as the secretary of the California state Highway Commission. Scott again ran for the seat in 1940, but lost to Republican challenger Ward Johnson by a nearly 10% majority. After spending 1941 and 1942 in the construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, Scott served on Roosevelt's World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
War Production Board
War Production Board
The War Production Board was established as a government agency on January 16, 1942 by executive order of Franklin D. Roosevelt.The purpose of the board was to regulate the production and allocation of materials and fuel during World War II in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
until the end of the war in 1945. Scott spent the next few years pursuing his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from the National University School of Law, and after graduating in 1949, he was admitted to the bar in Washington, D.C. where he started up his practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
. He retired from his law practice in 1979, and lived as a resident of Sun City, California
Sun City, California
Sun City is a former census-designated place in Riverside County, California, United States. It along with the neighboring communities of Quail Valley and Menifee incorporated as the City of Menifee on October 1, 2008. The population when Sun City was a CDP was 17,773 at the 2000 census...
until his death on December 21, 1991 at the age of 88.
External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States CongressBiographical Directory of the United States CongressThe Biographical Directory of the United States Congress is a biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress as well as its predecessor, the Continental Congress...
- The Political Graveyard profile for Byron N. Scott