Bartlett, Washington, 1824-1887

<p>Washington Montgomery Bartlett (February 29, 1824 – September 12, 1887) was an American politician who served as the 16th governor of California from January 1887 until his death in September of that year, as well as the 20th mayor of San Francisco from 1883 to 1887. He was the first Jewish governor of any U.S. state and – to date – the only Jewish governor of California. Bartlett converted to Congregationalism upon his death bed and was buried as a Christian.</p>

<p>Bartlett was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1824, the son of Sarah E. Melhado and Cosam Emir Bartlett. His mother was a Sephardic Jew. Unlike the second elected Jewish governor, Moses Alexander of Idaho, Bartlett was not particularly religious and did not participate in Jewish observances while in California: His funeral was conducted at the Trinity Episcopal Church in San Francisco.</p>

<p>He was a lifelong bachelor and a printer by trade. During his lifetime Bartlett was a San Francisco newspaper publisher, San Francisco County Clerk, lawyer, California State Senate member, mayor, and finally a governor.</p>

<p>Washington Bartlett was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1824 of a Sephardic mother, Sarah Melhado.</p>

<p>He arrived in San Francisco in 1849.</p>

<p>He and his brothers established newspapers in the Bay City in 1850 and 1853</p>

<p>In 1857, Bartlett left journalism and entered the legal profession.</p>

<p>He advertised his new practice regularly in Rabbi Julius Eckman’s Jewish newspaper, The Weekly Gleaner.</p>

<p>Bartlett gave liberally to Jewish charitable causes but was not otherwise involved with the Jewish community.</p>

<p>Washington Bartlett was the first California governor to die in office. He had served as governor for just eight months. Though this would not appear to be a common name, there were two Washington Bartlett’s in California’s history. The other, Washington Allon Bartlett, was the first American mayor of San Francisco, credited with changing the city’s name from Yerba Buena.</p>

<p>Bartlett was born in Georgia but moved with his family to Tallahassee, Florida, when he was 13 years old. He was an apprentice in his father’s printing business there. In 1849 Bartlett sailed around Cape Horn and on to California.</p>

<p>Rather than mining, Washington set up a print shop. In 1849 he issued the first book to be printed in English in California -- California As It Is and As It May Be or A Guide to the Gold Country, by Wierzbicki. Over the next years he started several newspapers including the Daily Evening News (later the True Californian).</p>

WASHINGTON BARTLETT was born in Savannah, Georgia, on February 29, 1824. He never attended college, but learned the printing business from his father who owned a newspaper. In 1849 Bartlett migrated to California and settled in San Francisco, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He entered politics as county clerk of San Francisco, serving in 1859, 1861, and 1867, and then was appointed to the Harbor Commission, where he served from 1870 to 1871. Bartlett also served as a member to the California Senate from 1873 to 1877, and was elected twice as mayor of San Francisco, serving from 1882 to 1886. He won the 1886 gubernatorial election, and on January 8, 1887 was inaugurated into office. During his term, considerable legislation was enacted, although Bartlett did not introduce these proposals. The Wright Irrigation Law was passed, allowing for the development of irrigation districts, and the University of California was granted a broader independence from the legislature. On August 23, 1887, Bartlett suffered a severe stroke, and on September 12, 1887, he passed away after serving only nine months in office. Governor Washington Bartlett, who published the first English-language book ever printed in California, is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California.