James W. Hyatt

James William Hyatt (September 19, 1837 – March 12, 1893) was Treasurer of the United States from 1887 to 1889. He had previously served as Bank Commissioner for the State of Connecticut, and United States Bank Examiner for Connecticut and Rhode Island. He served as a Democratic member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1875 and 1876, a member of the Connecticut Senate in 1884, and he was Warden of the Borough of Norwalk from 1877 to 1878, from 1880 to 1882, and from 1885 to 1887.

James William Hyatt
16th Treasurer of the United States
In office
May 24, 1887  May 10, 1889
PresidentGrover Cleveland
Benjamin Harrison
Preceded byConrad N. Jordan
Succeeded byJames N. Huston
24th, 26th, and 28th Warden of the Borough of Norwalk, Connecticut
In office
1877–1878
Preceded bySamuel Daskam
Succeeded byThomas H. Morison
In office
1880–1882
Preceded byThomas H. Morison
Succeeded byWilliam H. Smith
In office
1885–1887
Preceded byWilliam H. Smith
Succeeded byGeorge S. Gregory
Member of the
Connecticut Senate
from the 13th District
In office
1884–1885
Preceded byTalmadge Baker
Succeeded byAsa Smith
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk
In office
1875–1877
Serving with Winfield S. Hanford
Preceded byEdward P. Weed,
Thomas Guyer
Succeeded byAllen Betts,
Talmadge Baker
Personal details
Born(1837-09-19)September 19, 1837
Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedMarch 12, 1893(1893-03-12) (aged 55)
Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Democratic (after 1872)
Spouse(s)Jane Maria Hoyt[1]
ResidenceNorwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupationbusinessman
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States Union
Years of service1861-1865
Unit5th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Biography

James W. Hyatt was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of James W. Hyatt, and Laura Gray[1] on September 19, 1837.[2] With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Hyatt joined the 5th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.[2] After the war, he moved to New York City to join Lockwood & Co., a leading banking house that was founded by LeGrand Lockwood of Norwalk.[2]

In 1873, Hyatt attained control of the majority of stock of the Norwalk Horse Railway Company and returned to Norwalk to work as its Secretary and General Manager. He was president of the company at the time of his death.[2] He also worked as Vice President of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad, and, in 1881, became its president.[2] He represented Norwalk in the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1875 and 1876 as a Democrat (Hyatt had earlier supported the Republican Party, but became a Democrat in 1872).[2] In 1876, Governor of Connecticut Charles Roberts Ingersoll appointed Hyatt Bank Commissioner.[2] He was later reappointed by Govs. Richard D. Hubbard, Charles B. Andrews, Hobart B. Bigelow, and Thomas M. Waller.[2] In 1884, he was elected to the Connecticut Senate, but resigned so he could remain Bank Commissioner.[2]

In 1886, President of the United States Grover Cleveland appointed Hyatt United States Bank Examiner for Connecticut and Rhode Island.[2] In spring 1887, President Cleveland appointed Hyatt Treasurer of the United States, with Hyatt subsequently holding that office from May 24, 1887 to May 10, 1889.[2]

After suffering for several weeks from gout and Bright's disease, Hyatt died at Norwalk on March 12, 1893.[2] Surprising observers, who assumed that Hyatt was rich, Hyatt died a poor man and left virtually no estate for his widow.[3]

References

  1. Norwalk Vol. 1
  2. "Obituary: James W. Hyatt" (PDF). The New York Times. 12 March 1893. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  3. "He Died a Poor Man" (PDF). The New York Times. 20 August 1893. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
Preceded by
Edward P. Weed
Thomas Guyer
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk
1875–1877
With: Winfield S. Hanford
Succeeded by
Allen Betts
Talmadge Baker
Preceded by
Samuel Daskam
Warden of the Borough of Norwalk, Connecticut
1877–1878
Succeeded by
Thomas H. Morison
Preceded by
Thomas H. Morison
Warden of the Borough of Norwalk, Connecticut
1880–1882
Succeeded by
William H. Smith
Preceded by
Talmadge Baker
Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 13th District
1884–1885
Succeeded by
Asa Smith
Preceded by
William H. Smith
Warden of the Borough of Norwalk, Connecticut
1885–1887
Succeeded by
George S. Gregory
Preceded by
Conrad N. Jordan
Treasurer of the United States
May 24, 1887 – May 10, 1889
Succeeded by
James N. Huston
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