James T. Archer

James Tillinghast Archer (May 15, 1819 – June 1, 1859) was an American lawyer and politician from the state of Florida. Archer held a number of statewide offices.[1]

This article is about the Florida politician. For other uses, see James Archer.
James T. Archer
5th Florida Comptroller
In office
November 27, 1854 – January 24, 1855
GovernorJames E. Broome
Preceded byTheodore W. Brevard
Succeeded byTheodore W. Brevard
3rd Florida Attorney General
In office
April 11, 1848 – October 14, 1848
GovernorWilliam Dunn Moseley
Preceded byAugustus Maxwell
Succeeded byDavid P. Hogue
1st Secretary of State of Florida
In office
July 23, 1845 – April 11, 1848
GovernorWilliam Dunn Moseley
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byAugustus Maxwell
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Florida
In office
1840–1840
Personal details
BornMay 15, 1819
Gillisonville, South Carolina
DiedJune 1, 1859
Tallahassee, Florida
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Brown Archer
OccupationLawyer

Early life

Archer was born on May 15, 1819, in Gillisonville, South Carolina. His family moved to Leon County in the Florida Territory in the 1830s as a result of his father, Hugh Archer, taking a position on the Florida Territorial Legislative Council. Archer was thus raised into Florida politics from an early age.[2]

Political career

In 1840, Archer was named U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Florida, though he would only hold the position for that year.[3][4] A Democrat, he was named the first Florida Secretary of State when Florida gained its statehood in 1845.[5] He served in this position until April 1848, when he was appointed as the third Florida Attorney General upon the resignation of incumbent Augustus Maxwell.[4]

During his tenure, Archer was selected to be a member of the first Democratic National Committee at the 1848 Democratic National Convention.[6] He would serve as Attorney General until his resignation in October 1848.

After his resignation, Archer began a private law practice in Tallahassee, Florida, partnering with local lawyer Hugh A. Corley to form the law firm Archer and Corley.[7] Archer would later be briefly appointed as the fifth Florida Comptroller following the short absence of incumbent Theodore W. Brevard. He would serve from November 1854 until Brevard's return in January 1855.

Death and legacy

Archer died in Tallahassee on June 1, 1859, from heart disease. He is buried in the Old City Cemetery in Tallahassee.[1]

Shortly after his death, his friend David Levy Yulee named the town of Archer, Florida, after him.[8]

References
  1. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Archer". Political Graveyard. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  2. Ritter, Charles F.; Wakelyn, Jon L. (1989). American Legislative Leaders, 1850-1910. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313239434 – via Google Books.
  3. "The Political Graveyard: U.S. District Attorneys in Florida". Political Graveyard. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  4. "James T. Archer, Attorney General". Florida Memory. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  5. "A Guide to Florida Governors and the Florida Cabinet". Florida Memory. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  6. Armstrong, Robert (1852). Smith, F. H.; Hincks, William (eds.). Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention, Held at Baltimore, June 1-5, 1852. ISBN 9781425502911. Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via Google Books.
  7. Livingston, John (1853). Livingston's Law Register for 1853. New York: U.S. Law Magazine. p. 78 – via Google Books.
  8. "David Yulee & James Archer | City of Archer Florida". City of Archer. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
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