Henry L. Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Henry Laurens Mitchell (September 3, 1831–October 14, 1903) was an American lawyer
, judge
, and politician
. He served as the 16th Governor of Florida (1893–1897).
Mitchell was born near Birmingham
in Jefferson County
, Alabama
. His family moved to Tampa
when he was 15 years old. Mitchell studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849 at the age of 18.
When the American Civil War
began, Mitchell resigned from his post as Florida Attorney General
and enlisted in the Confederate States Army
. Mitchell was such a strong supporter of Southern nationalism that in he had two members of his Masonic
lodge expelled for fighting in the Union Army
. In July 1863, Mitchell left the Confederate Army to take a seat in the Florida House of Representatives
, to which he had been elected while serving. He was reelected after the war, in 1873 and 1875. His brother Charles Mitchell later became the Florida Commissioner of Land and Immigration, the modern equivalent of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
In 1888, Mitchell was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court
, serving as an associate justice until 1891, when he resigned to start campaigning for governor. He won the election. During his term as governor, Mitchell was paid $3500 per year.
After he left office, Mitchell returned to Hillsborough County
, where he was elected as clerk
of the circuit court
and subsequently county treasurer there. He died in Tampa on October 14, 1903 and was buried at Oaklawn Cemetery
.
In 1915, Henry Mitchell Elementary School opened and was named after him.
Law of the United States
The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, and politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
. He served as the 16th Governor of Florida (1893–1897).
Mitchell was born near Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. His family moved to Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
when he was 15 years old. Mitchell studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849 at the age of 18.
When the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
began, Mitchell resigned from his post as Florida Attorney General
Florida Attorney General
The Florida Attorney General is an elected cabinet official in the U.S. state of Florida. The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer of the state....
and enlisted in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
. Mitchell was such a strong supporter of Southern nationalism that in he had two members of his Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
lodge expelled for fighting in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. In July 1863, Mitchell left the Confederate Army to take a seat in the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
, to which he had been elected while serving. He was reelected after the war, in 1873 and 1875. His brother Charles Mitchell later became the Florida Commissioner of Land and Immigration, the modern equivalent of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
In 1888, Mitchell was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
, serving as an associate justice until 1891, when he resigned to start campaigning for governor. He won the election. During his term as governor, Mitchell was paid $3500 per year.
After he left office, Mitchell returned to Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
, where he was elected as clerk
Court clerk
A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...
of the circuit court
Florida Circuit Courts
The Florida Circuit Courts are state courts. They are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution .The Circuit Courts primarily handle civil cases where...
and subsequently county treasurer there. He died in Tampa on October 14, 1903 and was buried at Oaklawn Cemetery
Oaklawn Cemetery
Oaklawn Cemetery was Tampa, Florida's first public burial ground. The location was deeded in the mid-19th century. It was named as the final resting place for "White and Slave, Rich and Poor". The First Mayor of the City of Tampa Judge Joseph B. Lancaster is buried at Oaklawn along with pirates,...
.
In 1915, Henry Mitchell Elementary School opened and was named after him.