Albert W. Gilchrist

Albert Waller Gilchrist (born January 15, 1858 in Greenwood , South Carolina , † May 15, 1926 in New York City ) was an American politician and from 1909 to 1913 the 20th governor of Florida .

Early years and political advancement

Albert Gilchrist attended the Carolina Military Institute in Charlotte , North Carolina for two years . He then enrolled until 1882 at the Military Academy in West Point one. He served in the Florida National Guard until 1898 , where he made it to Brigadier General . During the Spanish-American War he was a captain of an infantry company. Between 1893 and 1905 Gilchrist was a member of the Democratic Party in the Florida House of Representatives . In 1905 he was even its president. In 1908 he was nominated by his party for the upcoming gubernatorial election and then also elected by the voters.

Florida governor

His four-year tenure as governor began on January 5, 1909. During his tenure, the Monteverde Industrial School was founded, some new counties were established and after eight years of construction, the railway from the mainland to Key West was completed. Another focus of his government was health care. First of all, a food law was passed that should protect consumers from spoiled goods. Then a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients and an institution for disabled children were built in Florida. In the prisons, too, greater importance was attached to the health of the inmates.

Further life

After his tenure ended on January 7, 1913, Gilchrist initially withdrew from politics. In 1916 he ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate . In 1924 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention . Albert Gilchrist died in May 1926.

literature

Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport Conn. 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Gilchrist, Albert W.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Gilchrist, Albert Waller (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	January 15, 1858
PLACE OF BIRTH	Greenwood , South Carolina
DATE OF DEATH	May 15, 1926
Place of death	New York City , New York