James W. Hyatt
Encyclopedia
James William Hyatt was a United States
businessman who was Treasurer of the United States
from 1887 to 1889.
on September 19, 1837. With the outbreak of the American Civil War
in 1861, Hyatt joined the 5th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. After the war, he moved to New York City
to join Lockwood & Co., a leading banking house that was founded by LeGrand Lockwood
of Norwalk.
In 1873, Hyatt attained control of the majority of stock of the Norwalk Horse Railway Company and returned to Norwalk to work as its Secretary and General Manager. He was president of the company at the time of his death. He also worked as Vice President of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad
, and, in 1881, became its president. He represented Norwalk in the Connecticut House of Representatives
in 1875 and 1876 as a Democrat
(Hyatt had earlier supported the Republican Party
, but became a Democrat in 1872). In 1876, Governor of Connecticut Charles Roberts Ingersoll
appointed Hyatt Bank Commissioner. He was later reappointed by Govs. Richard D. Hubbard
, Charles B. Andrews
, Hobart B. Bigelow
, and Thomas M. Waller
. In 1884, he was elected to the Connecticut Senate
, but resigned so he could remain Bank Commissioner.
In 1886, President of the United States
Grover Cleveland
appointed Hyatt United States Bank Examiner for Connecticut and Rhode Island. In spring 1887, President Cleveland appointed Hyatt Treasurer of the United States
, with Hyatt subsequently holding that office from May 24, 1887 to May 10, 1889.
After suffering for several weeks from gout
and Bright's disease
, Hyatt died at Norwalk on March 12, 1893. Surprising observers, who assumed that Hyatt was rich, Hyatt died a poor man and left virtually no estate for his widow
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who was Treasurer of the United States
Treasurer of the United States
The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
from 1887 to 1889.
Biography
James W. Hyatt was born in Norwalk, ConnecticutNorwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
on September 19, 1837. With the outbreak of 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...
in 1861, Hyatt joined the 5th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. After the war, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to join Lockwood & Co., a leading banking house that was founded by LeGrand Lockwood
LeGrand Lockwood
LeGrand Lockwood , was a businessman and financier in New York City in the late 19h century. He built the Lockwood-Mathews mansion in Norwalk, Connecticut....
of Norwalk.
In 1873, Hyatt attained control of the majority of stock of the Norwalk Horse Railway Company and returned to Norwalk to work as its Secretary and General Manager. He was president of the company at the time of his death. He also worked as Vice President of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad
Danbury and Norwalk Railroad
The Danbury and Norwalk Railroad was an independent American railroad that operated between its namesake cities in Connecticut from 1852 until its absorption by the Housatonic Railroad in 1887...
, and, in 1881, became its president. He represented Norwalk in the Connecticut House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
in 1875 and 1876 as a 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...
(Hyatt had earlier supported the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, but became a Democrat in 1872). In 1876, Governor of Connecticut Charles Roberts Ingersoll
Charles Roberts Ingersoll
Charles Roberts Ingersoll was the 47th Governor of Connecticut from 1873 to 1877.He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, son of Ralph Isaacs Ingersoll, a New Haven lawyer who also served in the state House of Representatives, the United States Congress, and as United States Minister to Russia and...
appointed Hyatt Bank Commissioner. He was later reappointed by Govs. Richard D. Hubbard
Richard D. Hubbard
Richard Dudley Hubbard was a United States Representative and the 48th Governor of Connecticut. Born in Berlin, Connecticut, he was orphaned while young, he pursued preparatory studies at East Hartford and graduated from Yale College in 1839, where he was a member of Skull and Bones...
, Charles B. Andrews
Charles B. Andrews
Charles Bartlett Andrews was an American politician and the 49th Governor of Connecticut.He was born in Sunderland, Massachusetts on November 4, 1834. He graduated from Amherst College in 1858. He then moved to the state of Connecticut and studied law...
, Hobart B. Bigelow
Hobart B. Bigelow
Hobart Baldwin Bigelow was an American politician and the 50th Governor of Connecticut.- Early life :Bigelow was born in North Haven, Connecticut on May 16, 1834. He was educated in the South Egremont Academy in Massachusetts. In 1851 he left there and afterward learned the machinist's trade at...
, and Thomas M. Waller
Thomas M. Waller
Thomas MacDonald Waller was an American politician and the 51st Governor of Connecticut.- Early life :Waller was born in New York City on January 1, 1840 to Irish immigrant parents. His parents died before he turned eight. He was later adopted by a Connecticut merchant called Robert Waller...
. In 1884, he was elected to the Connecticut Senate
Connecticut Senate
The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 94,600 inhabitants. Senators are elected to two-year terms without term limits...
, but resigned so he could remain Bank Commissioner.
In 1886, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
appointed Hyatt United States Bank Examiner for Connecticut and Rhode Island. In spring 1887, President Cleveland appointed Hyatt Treasurer of the United States
Treasurer of the United States
The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
, with Hyatt subsequently holding that office from May 24, 1887 to May 10, 1889.
After suffering for several weeks from gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
and Bright's disease
Bright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
, Hyatt died at Norwalk on March 12, 1893. Surprising observers, who assumed that Hyatt was rich, Hyatt died a poor man and left virtually no estate for his widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
.