Lewis Francis Byington
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Lewis F. Byington | |
---|---|
District Attorney of San Francisco | |
In office 1890–1905 | |
Preceded by | Daniel J. Murphy |
Succeeded by | William H. Langdon |
San Francisco Supervisor | |
In office 1890–1892 | |
Personal details | |
Born | May 24, 1868 |
Died | May 7, 1943 San Francisco, California | (aged 74)
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Profession | Lawyer |
Lewis Francis Byington (May 24, 1868 – May 7, 1943) was an American lawyer, author, and Democratic politician who served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1890–1892) and as District Attorney of San Francisco (1890–1905).[1][2]
Early life and education[]
Byington was born on May 24, 1868, in Downieville, California, a historic mining towns in Sierra County, northern California. He was a son of Lewis Byington, an early pioneer of Sierra County, and Catherine (Freehill) Byington. His grandmother was Abigail Webster, a cousin of Daniel Webster.[3]
His sister, Mary Emma Byington, was married to Tirey L. Ford, 18th California Attorney General and General Counsel for the United Railroads.[4]
Byington went to public school in Downieville. He graduated from Santa Clara College, now the University of Santa Clara, and in 1887 graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. He subsequently practiced law in San Francisco.[1]
Career[]
Lewis Byington was a member of the California bar. His practice was in the Supreme Court and Federal Courts of California.[5]
In 1898 he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
In 1899 he was elected San Francisco District Attorney, serving from 1900–1905.[6] As District Attorney of the Seventh Ward, he prosecuted the murderer Cordelia Botkin.[7]
Byington was president of the San Francisco civil service commission for major James Rolph.[8]
In 1935, Byington became president of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which provides water and electric power services to the city. He held this position until his death in 1943. As president, Byington oversaw the completion of the aqueduct and tunnels of the Hetch Hetchy system that brought water to San Francisco.[9]
Private life and affiliations[]
Byington was unmarried. In retirement, he made his home in San Francisco.[2]
He was vice president of the California Historic Landmarks League and served as president of the Native Sons of the Golden West. He was also a member of the University of California Club, the National Geographic Society, the San Francisco Lodge, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a principal speaker for the celebration of California's admission to the Union.[1]
Death[]
On May 7, 1943, Byington died of pneumonia at Stanford Hopital, San Francisco. He was 75 years old. Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Cathedral. He was buried at the Holy Cross Mausoleum.[2]
Publications[]
Byington wrote the following books:
- Byington, Lewis Francis (1931). The History of San Francisco. S. J. Clarke. OCLC 9592779. OL 6768917M.
- Byington, Lewis Francis. Downieville and its Historic Past. OCLC 83751114.
- Byington, Lewis Francis. Sierra County and its Historic Past. OCLC 54234050.
See also[]
San Francisco District Attorneys
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c San Francisco and its Municipal Administration 1902, Hon. Lewis F. Byington, page 46
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "L. F. Byington Dies in S.F." Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. 1943-05-07. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ Byington, Lewis, The National Cyclopædia of American Biography, 1941
- ^ Bailey Millard (1924). "History of the San Francisco Bay Region". The American Historical Society, Inc. pp. 83–84. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ^ San Francisco: its builders, past and present, pictorial, p. 249
- ^ Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1898-99 By San Francisco (Calif.) Board of Supervisors
- ^ "TWO LEADING FIGURES IN THE RECENT BOTKIN MURDER TRIAL]". the Tacoma Times. 1904-04-30. Retrieved 2015-08-16 – via Chronicling America.
- ^ Reno Evening Gazette, Sept. 14, 1931, p. 15.
- ^ Report of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. San Francisco, Calif. : The Commission. 1933
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lewis Francis Byington. |
- 1868 births
- 1943 deaths
- Lawyers from San Francisco
- Santa Clara University alumni
- University of California, Hastings College of the Law alumni
- People from Downieville, California
- Members of the California State Assembly
- District attorneys in California