Coombs, Frank Leslie, 1853-1934

COOMBS, Frank Leslie, a Representative from California; born in Napa, Napa County, Calif., December 27, 1853; attended the public schools in California; attended the Dorchester High School, Boston, Mass., and was graduated from the law department of Columbian (now George Washington) University, Washington, D.C., in 1875; was admitted to the bar in 1875 and commenced practice in Napa, Calif.; district attorney of Napa County, Calif., 1880-1885; member of the State assembly 1887-1889 and 1891-1897 and served as speaker in 1891 and again in 1897; on the death of John F. Swift was appointed United States Minister to Japan and served from June 1892 to August 1893; State librarian of California from April 1, 1898, to April 1, 1899; United States attorney for the northern district of California from April 1, 1899, to March 1, 1901; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1901-March 3, 1903); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1902; resumed the practice of law in Napa, Calif.; again a member of the State assembly 1921-1923 and 1925-1927; died in Napa, Calif., October 5, 1934; interment in Tulocay Cemetery.

<p>Frank Leslie Coombs (December 27, 1853 – October 5, 1934) was a congressman from California.</p>

<p>Frank Leslie Coombs was born in Napa, California, the son of Nathan Coombs and Maria Isabel Gordon. His maternal grandparents were William Gordon (who was a naturalized Mexican citizen originally from Ohio) and Juana Maria Lucero (who was Mexican). Coombs attended the public schools in California and Dorchester High School in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from the law department of Columbian University (now George Washington University Law School), Washington, D.C., in 1875. 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.</p>

<p>Coombs was a member of the California State Assembly from 1887 to 1893 and from 1897 to 1899, each time representing Napa County, and 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.</p>