Coombs, Frank Leslie, 1853-1934

Frank Leslie Coombs (December 27, 1853 – October 5, 1934) was an American lawyer, diplomat, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Minister to Japan from 1892 to 1893 asnd as a Congressman from California's 1st congressional district from 1901 to 1903.

Born in Napa, California, he attended public schools in California before graduating from Dorchester High School in Boston, Massachusetts and the law department of Columbian University. Coombs was admitted to the bar in 1875 and commenced practice in Napa. He was the District Attorney of Napa County from 1880 to 1885. From 1887 to 1893 and again from 1897 to 1899, Coombs was a member of the California State Assembly representing Napa County. He served as Speaker in 1891 and again in 1897. On the death of John F. Swift, he was appointed United States Minister to Japan and served from June 1892 to August 1893. He was the State Librarian of California from April 1, 1898 to April 1, 1899. Coombs was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California from April 1, 1899 to March 1, 1901.

Coombs was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1901 to March 3, 1903) from the 1st congressional district of California. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1902 in his redrawn district, which had been renumbered as the 2nd congressional district, losing by 49.2% to 48.3% to Democrat Theodore A. Bell. Coombs resumed the practice of law in Napa, and was again a member of the State Assembly from 1921 to 1931, representing Napa and Lake counties. He died in Napa at age 80, and was buried in Tulocay Cemetery.