Whitfield, James B. (James Bryan), 1860-1948

Originally of Wayne County, North Carolina, James B. Whitfield came to Florida as a boy, when his father started a cotton plantation in Leon County. He was educated at the West Florida Seminary in Tallahassee and at the University of Virginia, where he received the bachelor of law in 1886. Returning to Leon County, Whitfield practiced law until his election in 1888 as county judge. Beginning in 1889, he was clerk of the Florida Supreme Court for eight years. He was appointed State Treasurer in 1897 and Attorney General in 1903. In 1904, he was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court, and a year later became Chief Justice of that court. Whitfield served on the court until 1943. He was also noted for his interest in and knowledge of Florida history.