James Jefferson Britt

James Jefferson Britt (March 4, 1861 – December 26, 1939) was a United States Representative in Congress from North Carolina.

James Jefferson Britt
Member of the United States House of Representatives
In office
March 4, 1915  March 3, 1917
Preceded byJames M. Gudger, Jr.
Succeeded byZebulon Weaver
Member of the North Carolina Senate
In office
1909–1911
Personal details
Born(1861-03-04)March 4, 1861
Unicoi County, Tennessee
DiedDecember 26, 1939(1939-12-26) (aged 78)
Asheville, North Carolina
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
OccupationLawyer, politician

Biography

James Jefferson Britt was born near Johnson City, Tennessee, in present-day Unicoi County on March 4, 1861. He attended the common schools and studied under private tutors. He was principal of Burnsville (N.C.) Academy from 1886 to 1893. He was then superintendent of the public schools of Mitchell County 1894-1896 and headmaster of Bowman Academy, Bakersville, N.C., 1895-1896.

Britt was deputy collector of internal revenue at Asheville, N.C., 1896–1899. He studied law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he was admitted to the bar in 1900 and commenced practice in Asheville. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1904. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1906 to the Sixtieth Congress but was a special assistant United States attorney in 1906 and 1907. Britt became a member of the North Carolina Senate from 1909 to 1911, he was part of the special counsel to the Post Office Department from July 1, 1909 to December 1, 1910. He was again special assistant to the Attorney General from July 13, 1910 to December 1, 1910.

Britt was appointed Third Assistant Postmaster General by President Taft on December 1, 1910, and served until March 17, 1913. He was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917). He successfully contested the election of Zebulon Weaver to the Sixty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1917 – March 4, 1919), but was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election to the Sixty-sixth Congress in 1918.

He resumed the practice of law in Asheville, N.C. and served as chief counsel for the Bureau of Prohibition, Treasury Department, 1922-1932. Britt was an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief justice for the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1926. He once again resumed the practice of law in 1933.

James J. Britt died on December 26, 1939, in Asheville, N.C.[1] and was interred in Riverside Cemetery.

References

  1. "James J. Britt". The Boston Globe. Asheville. December 26, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved January 7, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
James M. Gudger, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 10th congressional district

1915–1917
Succeeded by
Zebulon Weaver
Preceded by
Zebulon Weaver
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 10th congressional district

1919
Succeeded by
Zebulon Weaver
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