James Diament Westcott, III (May 1, 1838, or June 18, 1838[a] – April 29, 1887), also known as James Diament Westcott, Jr., was an American politician from the state of Florida who served as the 19th Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.[1]
Early life and education
Westcott was born in the city of Tallahassee in the Florida Territory on either May 1, 1838, or June 18, 1838. Westcott is the son of James Westcott, an early Florida politician who would later serve as its U.S. Senator.[2] Although Westcott is the third in his family to share the name, he used the "Jr." suffix rather than the "III" suffix throughout his life.[3]
In 1858, Westcott became the Assistant Secretary of the Florida Senate. The following year, he became the private secretary of Governor Madison S. Perry.[4]
Within a few weeks of assuming office as Attorney General in July 1868, Westcott was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Republican Governor Harrison Reed, making him the youngest justice in the Court's history.[4]
Despite their political differences, Reed saw potential in appointing Westcott to the Supreme Court. For one, it was important for Reed to appease the Southern Democrats by appointing one of their own to the Court, as it was filled with carpetbagger Republicans. Additionally, Westcott's friendly disposition on the one hand and thoroughness in researching the law and precedent on the other made him invaluable to the Court, and earned him respect from members of both parties. During his time on the Court, Westcott wrote 267 decisions, more than any other Justice up to that time except for Chief Justice Edwin M. Randall.[4]
In 1872, incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Thomas W. Osborn did not run for re-election. Westcott ran to succeed him, receiving the Democratic nomination. However, Westcott lost in the general election to Republican Simon B. Conover as a result of the continuing Republican wave during Reconstruction.[9]
Westcott continued to serve on the Florida Supreme Court until illness forced him to resign in 1885.[6]
Death and legacy
Westcott died in Tallahassee, Florida, on April 19, 1887, from the same illness that forced him to resign just two years earlier.
Westcott, a lifelong bachelor, left his entire estate to his Alma mater, the West Florida Seminary, which was struggling at the time. In part thanks to his contribution, the college survived to become Florida State University. In December 1936, Florida State University renamed the Administration Building to the James D. Westcott Jr. Memorial Building.[10]
^The Florida Bar Association and the official newsletter of the Florida court system both list Westcott's birthday as May 1, 1838 (references 3 and 6). However, his official biography on the website of the Florida Supreme Court lists his birthday as June 18, 1838 (reference 4)
