L'Engle, Claude

Claude L'Engle was a noted news editor and supporter of Gov. Napoleon Broward. After Broward was elected to office L'Engle became state printer. In 1907 L'Engle was almost arrested for libel against John Graham- his arrest being prevented only by the personal influence of the newly elected governor. L'Engle alleged a conspiracy against Peter O. Knight, a corporate lawyer who L'Engle had targeted in several of his articles for influencing the Manatee County officials in his attempted arrest. What followed was an interesting trial in which L'Engle was eventually acquitted.

From the description of Claude L'Engle Scrapbook, 1907. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 184842188

From the guide to the Claude L'Engle Scrapbook, 1907, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)

Newspaper editor, United States Representative.

Born in Jacksonville, FL on October 19, 1868, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, becoming editor and publisher of Dixie, a weekly newspaper. He was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-third Congress and was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth Congress.

From the description of Claude L'Engle Papers, 1910-1919. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 49930270

Congressman Claude L'Engle of Florida was a representative in the 63rd U.S. Congress, which was in session from March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1915. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 19, 1868, L'Engle was a member of a prominent local family descended from the colonial-era Fatio family. L'Engle was educated in Duval County, after which he eventually became a newspaper editor in 1901. He worked on a series of papers including The Sun (published in Jacksonville and Tallahassee) and later was the owner of Dixie (1912-1914) published in Jacksonville. L'Engle married Nannie Baker Bradely of Marietta, Georgia, and they had six children. He died in Jacksonville on November 6, 1919.

Source: Gold, Pleasant Daniel, History of Duval County Florida (The Record Company, St. Augustine, 1928), 241. For additional information on Claude L'Engle see Eastman, Joel Webb, Florida Historical Quarterly 45, "Claude L'Engle, Florida Muckraker," 243-252.

From the guide to the Claude L'Engle Papers, 1910-1919, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)