James Jefferson Britt
Encyclopedia
James Jefferson Britt was a United States Representative in Congress from North Carolina
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Britt was deputy collector of internal revenue at Asheville, N.C., 1896-1899. He studied law at the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, he was admitted to the bar in 1900 and commenced practice in Asheville, N.C. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1904. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1906 to the Sixtieth Congress but was a special assistant United States attorney
in 1906 and 1907. Britt became a member of the North Carolina Senate
from 1909 to 1911, he was part of the special counsel to the Post Office Department from July 1, 1909-December 1, 1910. He was again special assistant to the Attorney General from July 13, 1910-December 1, 1910.
Britt was appointed Third Assistant Postmaster General by President Taft on December 1, 1910, and served until March 17, 1913. He was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1915-March 3, 1917). He successfully contested the election of Zebulon Weaver
to the Sixty-fifth Congress (March 1, 1919-March 3, 1919), but was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election to the Sixty-sixth Congress in 1918.
He resumed the practice of law in Asheville, N.C. and served as chief counsel for the Bureau of Prohibition, Treasury Department, 1922-1932. Britt was an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief justice for the North Carolina Supreme Court
in 1926. He once again resumed the practice of law in 1933.
James J. Britt died on December 26, 1939, in Asheville, N.C. and was intered in Riverside Cemetery.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
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Biography
Britt attended the common schools and studied under private tutors. He was principal of Burnsville (N.C.) Academy from 1886 to 1893. He was then superintendent of the public schools of Mitchell County 1894-1896 and headmaster of Bowman Academy, Bakersville, N.C., 1895-1896.Britt was deputy collector of internal revenue at Asheville, N.C., 1896-1899. He studied law at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
at Chapel Hill, he was admitted to the bar in 1900 and commenced practice in Asheville, N.C. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1904. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1906 to the Sixtieth Congress but was a special assistant United States attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
in 1906 and 1907. Britt became a member of the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
from 1909 to 1911, he was part of the special counsel to the Post Office Department from July 1, 1909-December 1, 1910. He was again special assistant to the Attorney General from July 13, 1910-December 1, 1910.
Britt was appointed Third Assistant Postmaster General by President Taft on December 1, 1910, and served until March 17, 1913. He was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1915-March 3, 1917). He successfully contested the election of Zebulon Weaver
Zebulon Weaver
Zebulon Weaver was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1917 and 1929 and between 1931 and 1947.-Early years and education:...
to the Sixty-fifth Congress (March 1, 1919-March 3, 1919), but was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election to the Sixty-sixth Congress in 1918.
He resumed the practice of law in Asheville, N.C. and served as chief counsel for the Bureau of Prohibition, Treasury Department, 1922-1932. Britt was an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief justice for the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
in 1926. He once again resumed the practice of law in 1933.
James J. Britt died on December 26, 1939, in Asheville, N.C. and was intered in Riverside Cemetery.