Westcott, James Diament, 1802-1880

Lawyer, politician.

James Diament Westcott, Jr., was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on May 10, 1802. He received a liberal education, and studied law. He was admitted to the Bar in 1824, and became a clerk in the Consular Bureau, Washington, D.C. He was secretary of Florida Territory from 1830-1834, United States attorney for the middle district of Florida 1834-1836, a member of the Territorial house of representatives in 1832, and a delegate to the State constitutional conventions in 1838 and 1839.

After Florida became a state, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from July 1, 1845, to March 3, 1849, and served on various committees. He settled in New York City in 1850, and practiced law, and in 1862, he moved to Canada. Though he died in Montreal, Canada, on January 19, 1880, he is interred in the City Cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida.

Politician.

John Y. Mason was born in Greenville County, Virginia, April 18, 1799. He attended University of North Carolina, receiving his A.B. in 1816 and was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1819. From 1823-1831, he was on the Virginia General Assembly, and in Congress from 1831-1837. He held a federal judgeship 1837-1844, was Attorney-General 1845-1846, and then served as Secretary of the Navy. After retirement, he went to private law practice, but later became an envoy and minister to France until his death in 1854.

From the description of Letter, 1846. (Florida State University). WorldCat record id: 50682840