George Smith Patton (born George William Patton; September 30, 1856 - June 10, 1927) was a California attorney, businessman and political figure. He was the son of George S. Patton Sr., a Confederate colonel during the American Civil War, and the father of George Smith Patton Jr., the general who commanded the Seventh United States Army and Third United States Army during World War II.
Video George S. Patton (attorney)
Early life
George Smith Patton was born George William Patton in Charleston, West Virginia (then Virginia), on September 30, 1856. He was the son of George S. Patton, Sr. and Susan Thornton Glassell.
The senior Patton served in the Confederate States Army and attained the rank of Colonel as commander of the 22nd Virginia Infantry Regiment. By some accounts, he had been recommended for advancement to Brigadier General, but was killed at the Battle of Opequon (Third Battle of Winchester) before the promotion was acted on. His brother Waller T. Patton, George William Patton's uncle, was a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate Army, and commanded the 7th Virginia Infantry until he was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg and died several weeks later.
George William Patton later changed his name to George Smith Patton to honor his father. The younger George Smith Patton graduated from Virginia Military Institute, studied law in Lexington, Virginia, and became an attorney.
Maps George S. Patton (attorney)
Career
In 1877 the younger George Smith Patton moved to Los Angeles County, California. According to some sources, he was appointed the first City Attorney of Pasadena, though his name does not appear in Pasadena's official listing as having held the position.
In 1884 Patton married Ruth Wilson, the daughter of Benjamin Davis Wilson, a wealthy landowner, businessman and political figure, and Margaret Hereford Wilson. George S. Patton and Ruth Patton were the parents of two children, General George Smith Patton Jr. (1885-1945) and Anne Wilson Patton (1887-1971). The Patton family lived at Lake Vineyard, a large landholding in San Gabriel, California, where they grew oranges, operated a winery, and raised other crops.
A member of the Democratic Party, Patton served as Los Angeles County District Attorney from 1886 to 1887. In 1894 Patton was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States House of Representatives.
Patton was a longtime friend and neighbor of businessman Henry E. Huntington. Beginning in 1902, Patton worked as an executive for Huntington's real estate development company, which was responsible for construction and settlement in much of the San Gabriel Valley, and extended throughout southern California.
In 1913 the city of San Marino was incorporated separately from San Gabriel, and Patton was elected the first Mayor. He served from April 1913 to April 1922, and again from October 1922 to August 1924.
Patton was the 1916 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from California. Running as a conservative opposed to women's suffrage and other reforms, he lost the general election to Governor Hiram Johnson, a progressive Republican.
Death and burial
Patton died at his Lake Vineyard home in San Marino on June 10, 1927. He was buried at San Gabriel Cemetery.
References
External links
- George S. Patton at Find a Grave
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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