White, Stephen Mallory, 1853-1901

Stephen Mallory White was born in San Francisco in 1853. In 1874 he moved to Los Angeles, where he practiced law and became involved in Democratic party politics. White married Hortense Sacriste in 1883 and, during that same year, started a one-year term as District Attorney. Three years later White became a state Senator representing the district in and around Los Angeles. He won a seat in the United States Senate in 1893 and saw his term through to 1899. White died in 1901 at the age of 48.

Stephen Mallory White was born January 19, 1853 in San Francisco, California. He was a lawyer, district attorney for Los Angeles, California State Senator (1886-1890), acting Lieutenant Governor of California (1888-1890), and U.S. Senator (1893-1899). He died in Los Angeles, California, February 21, 1901.

Biography / Administrative History

The son of an Irish immigrant, Stephen Mallory White was born in San Francisco in 1853, received his law degree from Santa Clara College in 1871. In 1874 he moved to Los Angeles, where he practiced law and founded the Los Angeles Bar Association in 1878. He also became involved in Democratic party politics.

White married Hortense Sacriste in 1883 and, that same year, started a one-year term as District Attorney. Three years later, White became a state senator representing the district in and around Los Angeles. In 1893, as a Free-Silver Democrat, White won a seat in the United States Senate--the first native Californian to represent the state--and saw his term through to 1899. He became well known for his opposition to the Southern Pacific Railroad's plan to have Santa Monica designated as Los Angeles' harbor. Instead, White stood up to Collis P. Huntington and his Southern Pacific Railroad by helping steer a huge federal subsidy to the building of a harbor at San Pedro. White died in 1902, at the age of 48.

Chronology

Biography

Stephen Mallory White was born January 19, 1853 in San Francisco, California. He was a lawyer, district attorney for Los Angeles, California State Senator (1886-1890), acting Lieutenant Governor of California (1888-1890), and U.S. Senator (1893-1899). He died in Los Angeles, California, February 21, 1901.