Henry L. Mitchell

Henry Mitchell

Henry Laurens Mitchell (born September 3, 1831 in Birmingham , Alabama , † October 14, 1903 in Tampa , Florida ) was an American lawyer and politician and from 1893 to 1897 the 16th governor of the state of Florida.

Early years and political advancement

Henry Mitchell attended schools in his Alabama homeland. The family moved to Tampa around 1846. Mitchell studied law there and was admitted to the bar in 1849. When the Civil War broke out , Mitchell joined the Confederation Army . He was a fanatical supporter of the south. In 1865 he had two members of his Masonic lodge expelled for fighting for the Union during the war. His political career began during the war. In July 1863 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. In the years 1873 and 1875 he made the jump to this body again. Between 1877 and 1888 Mitchell was a judge in the Sixth Judicial District of Florida. This was followed by his appeal to the Supreme Court of the state, where he served from 1888 to 1891.

Florida governor

The Democratic Party nominated Mitchell for the 1892 gubernatorial election, which he won. Mitchell's four-year term began on January 3, 1893, and was unfortunate. An economic crisis that broke out in 1893 had also hit Florida. In addition, there was a hurricane in 1896, which caused great damage and claimed numerous lives. The winter of 1894/95 brought an unusually sharp frost, which led to the destruction of the citrus fruits. The result of these disasters put many people in financial distress. The state, which was already affected by the economic crisis, had to accept tax shortfalls, which came at the expense of the budget.

After his tenure ended on January 5, 1897, Mitchell resumed his legal practice. He died in Tampa in 1903. Henry Mitchell was married to Mary Eugenia Spencer.

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personal data
SURNAME	Mitchell, Henry L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Mitchell, Henry Laurens (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American lawyer and politician
DATE OF BIRTH	September 3, 1831
PLACE OF BIRTH	near Birmingham , Alabama
DATE OF DEATH	October 14, 1903
Place of death	Tampa , Florida