James H. Britton

Infobox Mayor
name = James H. Britton


caption =
order = 23rd Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri
term_start = May 29, 1875
term_end = February 9, 1876
predecessor = Arthur Barret
successor = Henry Overstolz
birth_date = birth date|1817|07|11|mf=y
birth_place = Shenandoah County, Virginia
death_date = death date and age|1900|01|27|1817|07|11
death_place = Ardsley, New York
constituency =
party = Democratic
spouse =
children =
profession =
religion =


footnotes =

James H. Britton (July 11 1817 – January 27 1900) 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.cite web |url=http://exhibits.slpl.org/mayors/data/dt49584725.asp |title=St. Louis Mayors: James H. Britton |publisher=St. Louis Public Library |accessdate=2008-08-22]

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. [cite news |url=http://newspapers.umsystem.edu/default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?BaseHRef=CLD/1875/11/05&EntityId=Ar00300&Skin=Google&ViewMode=GIF |title=The Mayorality |date=1875-11-05 |publisher=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |accessdate=2008-08-25] 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 9 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.cite web |url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19118644 |title=James H. Britton (1817–1900) |publisher=Find A Grave |accessdate=2008-08-22]

References

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External links

* [http://exhibits.slpl.org/mayors/data/dt49584725.asp James H. Britton] — St. Louis Public Library: St. Louis Mayors Online Exhibit