William H. H. Hart
William H. H. Hart | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 16th Attorney General of California | |
| In office January 8, 1891 – January 11, 1895 | |
| Governor | Henry Markham |
| Preceded by | George A. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | William F. Fitzgerald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 25, 1846/1848 England |
| Died | December 24, 1918 Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cypress Lawn Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Loretta B. |
| Children | 1 |
William Henry Harrison Hart (January 25, 1846/1848 – December 24, 1918) was the 16th California Attorney General. Prior to this position, Hart claims to have been a United States Secret Service agent and to have fought in the American Civil War.
Early life
[edit]There is little actual documentation on Hart's early life except for information he later provided himself, some of which is open to question. William Henry Harrison Hart was born on January 25, 1846 (or 1848[1]), in England.[2] He immigrated to the United States with his family at age four.[1] Hart claimed to have been kidnapped by the Blackhawk Indians at the age of eight. He was then orphaned at age eleven. Hart struggled through a difficult childhood which led to his desire for danger and his allegedly joining the United States Secret Service at the age of only 14. Hart also claimed to have fought for the Union during the Civil War.[1][clarification needed]
Career
[edit]Hart once claimed to have received the highest fee ever paid to a lawyer for a single case in the United States. On November 4, 1890, Hart was elected as California Attorney General and took office on January 5, 1891. He served a single term.[1]
Hart was a prominent figure in the California phase of the Mystery airship wave of 1896-97, claiming to represent the airship's inventor.[citation needed]
Personal life
[edit]Hart married Loretta B. They had a son, Lowell J.[2]
A victim of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, Hart died on December 24, 1918, aged 70 or 72, at his home in Palo Alto, California.[2][1] He was buried at Cypress Lawn Cemetery.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "William H. H. Hart 16th Attorney General". 20 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Death Comes to Pioneer". Daily Palo Alto Times. 1918-12-26. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-04-13 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]
Media related to William H. H. Hart at Wikimedia Commons
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- 1840s births
- 1903 deaths
- California attorneys general
- United States Secret Service agents
- Union army soldiers
- Deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic in California
- English emigrants to the United States
- American people of English descent
- Burials at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park
- California politician stubs
- American law biography stubs