James H. Britton
Encyclopedia
James H. Britton was the twenty-third mayor of St. Louis, Missouri
.
Britton was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia
on July 11, 1817. In 1840, Britton moved to Troy, Missouri
where he opened a general store. He first became involved in Missouri
politics when he became Secretary of the Senate of the Missouri Legislature in 1848. Between 1852 and 1856, he served as a representative of Lincoln County
in the State Legislature. Afterwards, he took the position of Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives. He would later serve as the Treasurer of Lincoln County and Postmaster of Troy.
Britton moved to St. Louis in 1857 and took a job as a cashier at Southern Bank and, seven year later, became the bank's president. A few years later, Britton was named president of the National Bank of the State of Missouri.
Following mayor Arthur Barret
's sudden death in 1875, Britton ran for mayor and was nominated by the Democratic
party on May 10, 1875. In the special mayoral election held five days later on May 15, Britton defeated his opponent Henry Overstolz
. However, two days later, Overstolz decided to contest the election alleging ballot stuffing
amongst other things. Several months later, the ballots were recounted and on February 9, 1876, Britton was unseated and Overstolz was declared mayor. Britton had lost by 77 votes out of more than 29,000 votes cast.
During the nine months that Britton served as mayor, many sewer
districts were created and building inspections were mandated for new construction.
Britton died January 27, 1900 in Ardsley, New York
and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery
in St. Louis.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Britton was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia
Shenandoah County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,075 people, 14,296 households, and 10,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 16,709 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
on July 11, 1817. In 1840, Britton moved to Troy, Missouri
Troy, Missouri
Troy is a city in Lincoln County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 10,540. It is the county seat of Lincoln County.Troy is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area...
where he opened a general store. He first became involved in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
politics when he became Secretary of the Senate of the Missouri Legislature in 1848. Between 1852 and 1856, he served as a representative of Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Missouri
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,944 people, 13,851 households, and 10,554 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile . There were 15,511 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
in the State Legislature. Afterwards, he took the position of Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives. He would later serve as the Treasurer of Lincoln County and Postmaster of Troy.
Britton moved to St. Louis in 1857 and took a job as a cashier at Southern Bank and, seven year later, became the bank's president. A few years later, Britton was named president of the National Bank of the State of Missouri.
Following mayor Arthur Barret
Arthur Barret
Arthur B. Barret was the twenty-second mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, but died from an illness only 11 days after taking office....
's sudden death in 1875, Britton ran for mayor and was nominated by the Democratic
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...
party on May 10, 1875. In the special mayoral election held five days later on May 15, Britton defeated his opponent Henry Overstolz
Henry Overstolz
Henry C. Overstolz was the twenty-fourth mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1876 to 1881.Overstolz was born in Munster, Germany and moved to St. Louis in 1846, where he entered the merchandising business. He quickly involved himself in the city's government and, in 1847, was elected to...
. However, two days later, Overstolz decided to contest the election alleging ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing is the illegal act of one person submitting multiple ballots during a vote in which only one ballot per person is permitted. The name originates from the earliest days of this practice in which people literally did stuff more than one ballot in a ballot box at the same time...
amongst other things. Several months later, the ballots were recounted and on February 9, 1876, Britton was unseated and Overstolz was declared mayor. Britton had lost by 77 votes out of more than 29,000 votes cast.
During the nine months that Britton served as mayor, many sewer
Sanitary sewer
A sanitary sewer is a separate underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater...
districts were created and building inspections were mandated for new construction.
Britton died January 27, 1900 in Ardsley, New York
Ardsley, New York
Ardsley is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of Greenburgh. The village's population was 4,452 at the 2010 census. The current mayor of Ardsley is Jay Leon....
and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery
Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries
Bellefontaine Cemetery and the Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri are adjacent burial grounds, which have numerous historic and extravagant tombstones and mausoleums. They are the necropolis for a number of prominent local and state politicians, as well as soldiers of the...
in St. Louis.
External links
- James H. Britton at the St. Louis Public Library: St. Louis Mayors Online Exhibit.