American politician
James McLachlan (August 1, 1852 – November 21, 1940) was an American educator, lawyer and politician who served six terms as a U.S. Representative from California.
Early life
McLachlan was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, on August 1, 1852.[1] He immigrated to the United States in 1855 with his parents, who settled in Tompkins County, New York. He was reared on a farm there.
Education
He attended the public schools in Tompkins County. Eventually, he attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, graduating in 1878.
Career
Even before McLachlan went to college, he was a teacher in the public schools he had attended. He was elected school commissioner of Tompkins County in 1877, while still earning his degree.
After his college graduation, McLachlan studied law. He was admitted to practice in New York State in 1880, and practiced law in Ithaca, New York from 1881 to 1888, when he moved to Pasadena, California
McLachlan continued his law practice in Pasadena. From 1890 to 1892, he served as Los Angeles County District Attorney.[1]
Congress
On November 6, 1894, McLachlan was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897),[2] defeating Democrat George S. Patton (whose son, George S. Patton, Jr., was the famous World War II general).
In 1896, McLachlan was unsuccessful for re-election to Congress, losing to Charles A. Barlow, who had both the Populist and Democratic nominations.
McLachlan was elected to the Fifty-seventh through the Sixty-first Congresses (March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1911).[3] He was defeated for renomination to Congress in 1910 by future governor William Stephens.
Later life and death
McLachlan resumed the practice of law in Los Angeles and served as a member of the National Monetary Commission in 1911-1912. He died in Los Angeles on November 21, 1940 at the age of 88,[1] and was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park in Glendale, California.
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